From the shoes on our feet, to the casings of our phones, plastic surrounds our daily lives.

Cerritos College offers courses on how to become masters of plastic manipulation and allows for growth in student engagement.

Department Chairman of Manufacturing and Technology Terry Price, hosted an open house for the Plastics Department from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan., 7.

Price hosted the event in the metal building room 1 and invited both former and future students and special guests speakers to ad insight.

The open house meeting is hosted just before the deadline for class submission in an attempt to attract more students to sign up for the courses.

“We invite everybody from over here,” said Price. “We are here every night from six to ten during the week, we have programs in here during the day.”

Most speakers that attended the event were sent from companies in the field of manufacturing technology that according to Price sponsor the various programs the school offers.

“Everyone has an interest in it,” said Price. “Whether it’s automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, transportation military or commercial we’ve been teaching that here since 1990.”

Along with the former students speaking of their experiences with the class there were many demonstrations displayed for those present.

Some included: rapid prototyping 3-D printing, laser cutting and engraving, injection molding and material casting.

A short break was issued halfway through the meeting which allowed those that attended the opportunity to venture around the room and pay a visit to the facilities and high tech machines where casters and designers roll up their sleeves and work.

After the break various awards, certificates and scholarships was awarded to past students for their efforts in the many fields of plastics and composites.

Former student and current worker for the city of Los Angeles Nick Albert, feels that a value one can take from the classes offered at Cerritos College are the different combinations in composites and plastics, for example carbon fiber, that students are exposed to.

“The classes that Terry has provided have been instrumental in our processes,” Albert said. “We use him, the staff and even the dean as great resources in endeavors.”

According to Price laser cutting and 3-D printers have added depth to class interaction.

“Its a wonderful opportunity for young people that are very creative and also for some of the people that are returning for work and finding jobs,” Price said. “We have job folders that companies are e-mailing jobs, I don’t look in the newspaper, I announce them in the class.”