Clad in their new Kids’ Day T-shirts, nearly 100 students from the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Belvedere Middle School spent Feb. 24 on the USC Health Sciences campus, hosted by the Skull and Mortar Honorary Service Fraternity of the USC School of Pharmacy.

Established in 1998, the annual educational event blends learning about making good decisions and career choices with varied activities and entertainment.

Students from the USC School of Pharmacy, the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the department of optometry shared their knowledge and experiences with the children, encouraging them to think about the consequences their actions will have on their lives.

Each year, a different neighboring middle school is selected to attend. Pharmacy student organizers plan to play host to every middle school in the area.

Presentations target middle school interests and the important issues confronting children at this time in their lives. By providing fundamental knowledge, the program encourages children to make smart, well-informed decisions regarding education, health and relationships.

The children participated in workshops on nutrition, sexual awareness and substance abuse, followed by a motivational lecture on anti-gang awareness. A career forum exposed students to health science professions and the contributions these professionals make to society. Information booths educated the students on optometry, poison prevention and antibiotic resistance.

A highlight of the day featured pharmacy fraternities in dance performances and a singing competition that spoofed the Fox series “American Idol.”

Kids’ Day involves USC students, faculty and volunteers from other pharmacy organizations such as Alpha Iota Pi, Lambda Kappa Sigma and Phi Delta Chi, as well as those from other USC health professional schools.

Event sponsors provided lunches, T-shirts and caps to the visiting students. The program is made possible through contributions from the USC School of Pharmacy, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, United Pharmacists Network Inc. (UPNI), CVS Pharmacies, Pepperidge Farm, Souplantation, the California Science Center, Target, Jamba Juice, the Museum of Tolerance, LACMA, Legoland, the Aquarium of the Pacific and In-N-Out.