New Technical College Holds Grand Opening

SPRING HILL – It was a momentous day for education in Hernando County. The Wilton Simpson Technical College officially opened its doors on April 2 to educators, leaders, and media members from around the state.

Wednesday’s grand opening started with the presentation of the colors by Springstead’s Color Guard before Florida Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson, the institution’s namesake, gave more details on the project’s inception.

“I thought, ‘Well, if I served in the Florida Senate or legislature, not only could we improve the business environment here in the state of Florida, but we could do a lot of work with our philanthropic communities and faith-based communities to make sure that we are delivering services to the people who need them the most,’” Commissioner Simpson said. “How do we do that? […] Well, this technical school is one of those things.”

Despite a fluid map that saw Citrus and Sumter counties enter and leave Simpson’s jurisdiction during his ten years in the state Senate, Hernando was always a constant. Add to that a collection of county leaders who were focused on creating jobs and making Hernando an “industrial base,” and the technical college was an idea that refused to go away.

Commissioner Simpson, who has worked in the egg business his entire life, noted that such a project was much more in his purview. He then gauged interest from the county’s schools, commissioners, and chamber of commerce, and they were all in on the idea.

The only hiccup was that the construction, which was initially projected to cost $9 million, would later require a total of approximately $15 million to complete. The remaining $6 million needed for infrastructure would eventually be acquired through a grant program. From that point, the project quickly got underway. Eighteen to 24 months later, the Wilton Simpson Technical College was minted. Dr. Radiah Dent, the technical college’s director, called the school “a dream realized for many folks that even preceded me.”

Hernando County Superintendent Ray Pinder noted that Sophia Watson, the former director of adult education, “held the vision and laid the groundwork for what the Wilton Simpson Technical College would become.”

The new educational facility offers a host of instructional opportunities in fields including cybersecurity, automotive service technology, barbering, cosmetology, and law enforcement among others. Their extension campus programs offer courses in heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and welding.

Pre-apprenticeship programs are available for those students who are “interested in increasing their academic skills while earning an entry level certificate,” the college’s pamphlet states. Further still, high school students can enroll in dual enrollment classes to receive credit hours toward technical and career programs as well.

The technical college is the fulfillment of not just years of planning for a singular project. It is also a major step in the ongoing goal to improve schooling in the county and increase retention of local talent in the future.

“I am eager to watch as the Wilton Simpson Technical College equips their students with an education that will help enhance their quality of life and transform our community for years to come,” said Superintendent Pinder. “[…] By creating a skilled workforce, we’re attracting new businesses, supporting existing ones, and creating economic opportunities that will benefit all residents of Hernando.”

The technical college is located at 17050 Spring Hill Drive in Brooksville. The local institute is on the lookout for more instructors, and any students looking to enroll can call the school at 352-797-7018 for more information.