More than 100 seventh-graders from the La Merced Intermediate School in Montebello spent March 6 on the Health Sciences campus, marking the USC School of Pharmacy’s 12th annual Kids’ Day.

Pharm.D. student Sandy Song, coordinator of the event, welcomed the students to the HSC Quad. After proclaiming, “Kids’ Day rules,” she listed the day’s activities and got the students started on events.

Kids’ Day is a community project of the School of Pharmacy Skull and Mortar Honorary Service Fraternity. The event offers some fun with serious information that encourages the students to study hard, stay out of trouble and consider careers in health care.

The theme of this year’s event was “Out of this World.” The pharmacy students put together a lively day, with sessions on making good life choices, staying out of gangs, substance abuse prevention and other lifestyle topics complemented by an “American Idol”-like competition and a series of dance performances.

The performances ran the gamut from hula dancing to rap singing. In between routines, students participated in raffles for gifts ranging from MP3 players to Trojan garb.

Before arriving on campus, students were given an opportunity to compete in a poster contest which conveyed the theme of “what it means to live a life without gangs.”

The winning poster was submitted by Ana Pena, Ana Padilla and Charles Gama. Each of the winners received an IPOD shuffle for their three-panel display that showed the perils of gang life and the importance of good choices.

Sponsors for the event included Albertsons/Sav-on, CVS/pharmacy, United Pharmacists Network Inc. and Walgreens. Support for the event also was provided by the School of Pharmacy and the USC Graduate and Professional Student Senate.