Lorenzo Walker Technical College first opened on August 28, 1974, under the name Collier County Vocational Technical Center, offering thirteen programs. The school became accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in December of 1978. In 1988, the school’s name was changed to the James Lorenzo Walker Vocational Technical Center, in honor of James Lorenzo Walker, a former legislator who was instrumental in obtaining original funding for the school. Then in 1997, the school’s name was changed to Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology. The summer of 2015 ushered in yet another name change as the school earned the credentials to be known as Lorenzo Walker Technical College (LWTC).
For over forty years, LWTC has lived up to its mission of providing rigorous and relevant educational experiences that prepare students with both the academic and technical skills necessary to succeed in their chosen careers. In its continued evolution to meet the needs of the community, business, and the workforce, LWTC, under the auspices of the District School Board of Collier County Career Planning Task Force, began planning strategically in 2004 to revamp its Career Education Program and develop a long-term plan for the District. The Career Planning Task Force issued a Comprehensive Career Education Plan which addressed staff need, curriculum development, counseling and marketing. As a result, in 2008, the Lorenzo Walker Technical High School opened on the campus, offering high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to attend certificate training programs. In August 2009, a nearly 200,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, which houses all technical programs, opened its doors.
