Glendale Student AJ Toops Graduates from University of San Diego

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SAN DIEGO, CA (01/06/2012)(readMedia)-- Anthony Joseph "AJ" Toops of Glendale has graduated from the University of San Diego.

A special mid-year celebration and Mass was held for graduates on Dec. 15.

Toops majored in mechanical engineering and earned a unique bachelor of science/bachelor of arts dual degree offered by USD's Engineering Programs.

For his senior design project in engineering, Toops helped create a CNC Plasma cutting machine that provides precise and complex cuts for a variety of metals. During his last semester, he also worked as a laboratory assistant for USD Associate Professor of Engineering David Malicky.

Toops originally planned to play football and then rugby at USD but after several injuries he chose to concentrate on his studies.

Toops is the first in his family to attend college and benefitted from USD's Student Support Services.

He graduated from Brophy College Preparatory in 2007.

The University of San Diego is a Catholic institution of higher learning chartered in 1949; the school enrolls some 7,800 undergraduate and graduate students and is known for its commitment to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values and community service. The fall 2007 establishment of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies brings the University's total number of schools and colleges to six. Other academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business Administration, Leadership and Education Sciences, Law and Nursing and Health Sciences.