Incoming Annenberg students will enjoy the first course of their USC careers at the annual Taste of Annenberg New Student Assembly and Involvement Fair, hosted by the school's Special Events team.

The event will be held on Thursday, August 18, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Founders Park and the Annenberg Auditorium in ASC. Students will have an opportunity to get to know faculty and staff members and become acquainted with the many, many organizations and activities that make Annenberg unique.

In the morning Dean Ernest J. Wilson III will welcome new students at the New Student Interdisciplinary Assembly and introduce them to faculty and programs from the Communication and Journalism schools. “We’re one of the best schools in the world,” he said at last year’s event. “Because we have the best faculty in the world.”

Faculty members from both schools will describe their courses and research, giving attendees a roadmap for future studies. As Sarah Banet-Weiser, Director of the School of Communication, noted last year, Annenberg is probably the “most interdisciplinary school on this campus.” This event is designed to help them navigate that wealth of choices.  

Following the assembly, the students will head to Founders Park for the New Student Picnic and Involvement Fair. More than 25 campus organizations and departments will set up booths with information on how to get involved. Among them will be the Annenberg Innovation Lab, Media, Economics & Entrepreneurship M{2e}, USC Center on Public Diplomacy, U.S.-China Institute, Women's Leadership Society, and many more. (A full list is below.)

The picnic will be catered by a number of local favorites, including Pie & Burger, Let’s Be Frank Dogs, Hot Dog on a Stick, Mini Donuts and Rita’s Italian Ice.

As has become a Taste of Annenberg tradition, an Instagram contest will be held during the event. The rules are simple:

• Use props you'll come across at the New Student Picnic, and get creative with your photos. Upload them to Instagram, set to Public, tag @USCAnnenberg and #TasteASCJ16.
• The winner will receive an Illy gift certificate.
• The contest will run from 12p.m.—1:30 p.m. Entries will be judged based on style, creativity, school spirit and photo clarity. Winner will be notified via Instagram.

Click here to RSVP for the New Student Interdisciplinary Assembly (Incoming Undergraduate Students Only). RSVP for the New Student Picnic and Involvement Fair is not required.

Student organizations and Annenberg departments scheduled to participate this year:

• Annenberg Ambassadors
• Annenberg Black Student Association (ABSA)
• Annenberg Digital Lounge
• Annenberg Graduate Student Representatives
• Annenberg Innovation Lab
• Annenberg Latino Student Association
• Annenberg Media
• Annenberg Student Communication Association (ASCA)
• Annenberg X
• Career Development
• International Programs
• Lambda Pi Eta
• Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League
• Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative
• Media, Economics & Entrepreneurship (M{2e})
• National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)
• National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ)
• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
• The Women's Leadership Society
• Third Space Millennials, Inc.
• Trojan Vision
• USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy (CCLP)
• USC Annenberg Debate Squad
• USC Annenberg Debate: British Parliamentary Team
• USC Center for Public Relations
• USC Center on Public Diplomacy
• USC Hospitality
• USC U.S.- China Institute
• Viterbi Information Technology Program (ITP)

For photos from last year's Taste of Annenberg, click here. Photos from last year's new student assembly can be found here.