For many, the perception of career and technical education has changed dramatically in recent years.

No longer are tech schools solely about old skills and vocations. Instead, they're now working in the forefront of technology.

On Tuesday, Orange County Public Schools unveiled a $3 million dollar program, Launch Site, at their Mid Florida Tech campus. It's equipped with the latest technology, from animation rooms to programming suites.

"It's an opportunity for students to get engaged in high-tech, high-wage industries," said Michael Armbruster, senior executive director of career and technical education for Orange County Public Schools. "Historically, students were either college-bound or tech-bound, and today that's not the case."

Armbruster said students in tech centers can accumulate college credits, transferring to a local college, like Valencia, or head straight into the workforce.

Conversely, college students and adults also take tech classes on the side.


Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs speaks at the unveiling of Orange County Public Schools' Launch Site tech program Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, at Mid Florida Tech. (Julie Gargotta, Staff)

The modeling, simulation and training industry in Florida, on average, generates $4.8 billion of gross state product. It's also a major employer, with 27,000 Floridians working, and the total jobs impact over 60,000. The average salary of someone working in the industry is also more than $70,000 per year.

"We have an aging workforce, and we need every level of education to grow the future workforce," said retired Lt. General Thomas Baptiste, president and CEO of the National Center for Simulation, which he added was instrumental in launching the school district's new tech program. "It's very important to people who are looking for an opportunity in a high-tech world that has a big future."

According to Baptiste, simulation in Central Florida can be traced back to the 1960s, when a small group of Army simulation experts, focused on training war fighters, moved from Long Island, New York to the Naval Training Center in Orlando. That facility has since closed and transformed into Baldwin Park.

By 1984, leaders began to envision a research park. Soon after, the Florida Legislature offered the Army/Navy team 40 acres to build a center for excellence for training, called the Naval Support Activity Orlando. It's now the centerpiece and anchor tenant of a research park, the largest in Florida and fourth largest in the country.

Though simulation started as a way to train our military, it morphed, filtering into education, health care, entertainment and digital media. From ride design to gaming, simulation is a booming sector in Central Florida, with more than 150 companies in the industry.

Employers are capitalizing upon the local talent pool, too. They are coming to Orange County Tech Centers, informing instructors and leaders what skills they need to fulfill their workforce. The tech centers then train students, specifically on those skills.

"I was kind of a geek when I was a kid. I don't know, I just loved computers," said Andrew Fowler, an 18-year-old student at Mid Florida Tech.

Fowler said sitting in front of a computer for five or six hours a day, programming and designing, isn't a chore.

"We love what we do, so it's not hard for us to sit in front of a computer," Fowler explained.

Last year, his senior year Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Fowler was one of 80 students dual-enrolled and taking courses in tandem at Mid Florida Tech. Fowler is now in the new program at the tech school, gaining credits to one day get to Valencia College.

"I've learned a lot about modeling, 3-D modeling, and next semester I'll be learning about 3-D animation," Fowler said.

In classrooms, students are encouraged to collaborate, learning how to create video games and simulations. The second floor of the campus building also houses the largest motion capture system in Florida.

"It's huge to be able to use all this technology to our advantage," said Fowler. "I do feel lucky."

Adults who want to gain certification in a variety of programs at the Orange County Public Schools Tech Centers can enroll in winter classes starting in January.

They cost under $3 per learning hour, with some programs totaling 600 hours in length.