Bates Technical College proudly marks its 85th anniversary in 2025, celebrating a rich legacy that began on September 4, 1940, in the basement of Hawthorne Elementary School. What started as a modest technical education program quickly grew, becoming known as Tacoma Vocational School during the 1941-42 school year.
In 1944, L.H. (LaVerne Hazen) Bates was appointed as the school’s director, ushering in a new era of growth and development. Under his leadership, the school was renamed Tacoma Vocational-Technical Institute in 1947, reflecting its expanding mission. After 25 years of dedicated service, Verne Bates retired in 1969, and the Tacoma School Board honored his contributions by renaming the institution the L.H. Bates Vocational Technical Institute.
In 1991, a significant transformation occurred when state legislation separated vocational technical institutes from local school districts, bringing them under the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. This pivotal change positioned Bates as a leader in Washington State’s technical education landscape.
Today, Bates Tech serves approximately 3,000 career training students and an additional 10,000 community members across three campuses. The college offers nearly 50 technical education programs, continuing education, child studies and more.

Events

Celebrating Our Veterans event
November 06, 2024 South Campus Auditorium
Celebrate and honor our student and employee veteran community.
President's and Dean's List Celebration
November 19, 2024 South Campus Auditorium
Join us as we celebrate the students who made the President's and Dean's lists.
Native American Appreciation Celebration
November 20, 2024 South Campus Auditorium
Join us as we honor and celebrate the Sout Sound Native American community through storytelling and more.
Advisory Committee Appreciation Dinner
November 21, 2024 Downtown Campus Auditorium
A special dinner as we show our appreciation to our advisory committees.
Employee Holiday Brunch
November 27, 2024 Downtown Campus Auditorium
Celebrate the holidays with your fellow employees!
GoodRoots NW Food Locker Launch and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
January 23, 2025 South Campus Building A
Join as we cut the ribbon on the West Coast's first food locker of its kind, secured through partnership with GoodRoots Northwest.
Employee Giving Campaign
February 10, 2025 All Campuses
Participate in our 2024-2025 Employee Giving Campaign!
Professional Development Day
March 24, 2025 Downtown Campus Auditorium
Employee professional development day, infused with fun and 85th photoshoot.
Scholarship Luncheon
April 17, 2025 South Campus Auditorium
Enjoy a lunch celebrating our generous donors and student recipients.
President's and Dean's List Celebration
April 21, 2025 South Campus Auditorium
Join us as we celebrate the students who made the President's and Dean's lists.
Groundbreaking for Fire Service Building
May 28, 2025 South Campus
Celebrate the breaking of ground for the new Fire Service building at South Campus!
Commencement Ceremony
June 06, 2025 Tacoma Dome
Celebrate our graduates and all of their hard work!
Commencement/End of Year Celebration
June 06, 2025 Downtown Campus Auditorium
Come together to celebrate the end of the school year.
Opening Day Celebration
September 22, 2025 Downtown Campus Auditorium
It's the start of the 2025-2026 academic year! Open up the 60th anniversary time capsule with us and celebrate our 85th anniversary.
85th Anniversary Hearts and Stars Gala
October 04, 2025 Tacoma Armory
Hearts and Stars: Illuminating Endless Possibilities, Inspiring Brighter Futures and Honoring History Celebrate the college’s golden 85th anniversary and raises critical funds for the foundation that remove financial barriers for our students so they can reach their educational and professional goals. batestech.edu/gala

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Alumni and Friends Stories

After becoming unemployed for the second time within 12 years because of national and global events, I was a 50-year-old frustrated professional with an uncertain future. With the help of Bates’ Student Services, along with Worker Retraining and Financial Aid offices, I enrolled in the Cybersecurity program. My professors showed immense care for the success of their students through their teachings and invited industry professionals into our classrooms for informative Q&A sessions. I successfully graduated from the program and am once again excited about my future.
Daniel Fewkes, Cybersecurity program graduate ‘22
As a lifelong Tacoma resident, I have always known about Bates Technical College. It wasn’t until I was looking at schools to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) that I discovered Bates had a superb CMA program. The first few months of the program were difficult for me outside of school and I knew I needed to start forming a community around me. Wednesdays were my favorite day of the week, as that is when we got to practice and learn all of our clinical skills! I decided to join the Associated Student Government as the VP of the Downtown Campus, which provided incredible opportunities in leadership and built a fantastic community around me. I was also incredibly grateful to have received many of the Bates Foundation Scholarships during my time here, which alleviated much stress during school.
Megan Adams, Certified Medical Assistant graduate ‘23
Bates Technical College was pivotal in my culinary journey, offering me a focused and supportive environment to pursue my passion. Enrolling at Bates allowed me to dive deeply into the culinary arts, far beyond traditional education. The hands-on experience, mentorship from Chef Runn, and the chance to specialize in areas I’m passionate about were invaluable. Bates not only provided technical skills but also a sense of belonging and purpose, preparing me for my externship at Archipelago and my future studies at the Culinary Institute of America. This foundation has been crucial in shaping my career and helping me bring Filipino cuisine into the spotlight.
Ben Parker, Culinary Arts graduate ‘24