Different aspects of the Welcome Bash.

The Department of Food Science & Technology at Texas A&M University hosted its 3rd Annual Welcome Bash on Friday, September 12th at The Gardens Pavilion. The event brought together new and returning students to celebrate the start of the 2025–26 school year with an afternoon full of food, fun, and community.

Students were greeted with free food and drinks, along with a brand new FSTC t-shirt to show their department pride. This year’s shirt was especially meaningful because the design was created by one of our very own FSTC students. Earlier in the year, the department held a design contest where all FSTC students had the opportunity to submit their ideas. The entire department then voted on their favorite design, and the winning design has now come to life as the official 2025–26 department t-shirt.

Yard games were set up throughout the gardens, giving students a chance to relax and connect with one another in a casual, welcoming atmosphere.

One of the highlights of the event was the “Pie a Professor” raffle, where students entered for the chance to throw a pie at a Food Science professor of their choice. This tradition drew plenty of laughs and excitement from both students and faculty.

The celebration also featured live music by DJ Deep Spin Prof, also known as Dr. Pillai, who kept the energy high with a fun mix of tunes throughout the afternoon.

The Welcome Bash has quickly become a favorite tradition in the department, giving students the opportunity to meet faculty, reconnect with peers, and build a sense of community within Food Science & Technology. As one student put it, “It is the perfect way to start the semester. It feels like we are all part of something bigger than just our classes.”

The Department looks forward to continuing this tradition and growing the event each year as more students join the Aggie Food Science family!