At the University of San Diego we’re always looking toward the horizon — to what’s new and what’s next.And when we think of the newest class of incoming students who will be joining the Torero family in the fall, we couldn’t be more proud.Our Class of 2027 has an average weighted grade point average of 4.05. These students come from 43 states, 27 countries and three U.S. territories and represent 14 different faith traditions, including nearly 44% who are Catholic.Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. This is our vision statement, but it isn’t a catchy phrase or a lofty goal. It’s our true north. It’s what we do. It’s who we are. We are proud to be the youngest private institution among U.S. News & World Report’s top-100 universities in the nation. USD has consistently ranked among the top-five schools in the nation for the percentage of undergraduates participating USD’s unique study-abroad experience, which offers 95 academic programs in more than 40 countries. We’re honored to be one of the top-three Catholic Colleges and Universities in California by Niche.com. And this year, we’re thrilled to once again hold the title as the No. 1 most beautiful campus in America by The Princeton Review. Small class sizes, a compassionate culture, hands-on learning opportunities and state-of-the-art resources are the cornerstone of the USD experience. Our focus on academic excellence — inspired by faith and nurtured in a beautiful and welcoming environment — empowers innovative, confident, original thinkers to make positive contributions around the world. Our curriculum prepares students to be lifelong learners who have the necessary skills to navigate their future careers and live impactful lives. Designed by our faculty members, the curriculum spans critical competencies that employers routinely tout as the most important skills needed in the workforce. All USD undergraduate students, regardless of their majors, are encouraged to investigate questions of ethical, religious and philosophical inquiry. They are also encouraged to learn from and be invigorated by a diversity of perspectives that can only come from critically examining art, history, literature and the human experience. At USD, we are Changemakers. We are innovators and we do, in fact, lead with love.In 2011, USD became the first university on the West Coast to officially be designated as a Changemaker institution and today, we remain one of only 41 campuses in the world to maintain this designation. Here, classroom learning is connected to social justice and social change — and more than 500 courses include a service component. In addition to an engaging and integrated academic experience on campus, students at USD learn how to make a difference in our city, across our border and around the world. Our location at the edge of an international gateway uniquely prepares students to embrace the breadth and depth of ways they can become globally competent citizens. Students participate in service-learning projects annually and, each year, together with our faculty and staff, contribute more than 400,000 public service hours globally. The University of San Diego is known across the nation and around the world. However, we also take great pride in being an anchor institution right here in San Diego and serving alongside our neighbors who live and work here and may have even visited our campus, known as Alcalá Park. That truly means the world to us.The University of San Diego. We are Changemakers.Link: Learn more about USD’s academic reputation and approach to personalized learning here.
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JULY 7, 2026
Xplosion Box: A Customized Keepsake Your Loved Ones Won’t Forget
A customized memory-filled explosion gift box is a creative way to show someone you care
Finding a gift that feels truly personal can be surprisingly difficult. In a sea of generic options — flowers, gift cards, candles, and the like — Xplosion Box offers something more lasting: a customized keepsake built around the photos, messages, and memories that matter most.
Founded by Southern California entrepreneur Jay Vijay, Xplosion Box LLC creates fully customized explosion gift boxes that arrive professionally designed, printed, assembled, and ready to gift. Each box opens layer by layer to reveal personal photos, heartfelt messages, pull-out albums, origami-style photo pockets, and hidden notes, turning a simple gift into an emotional reveal.
The brand was built for people who want to give something meaningful without spending hours printing photos, cutting paper, folding cardstock, or assembling a DIY project. Customers simply choose a box, upload their favorite photos, add personal messages, and the Xplosion Box team transforms those details into a polished keepsake that feels thoughtful, personal, and beautifully made.
Xplosion Box offers personalized gift boxes for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, proposals, bridesmaid gifts, long-distance relationships, and thoughtful “just because” moments.
Customers can choose from flexible customization options starting at $27. The Mini Surprise Box includes 10 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note, while the Mega Surprise Box offers a fuller keepsake experience with 40 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note.
What sets Xplosion Box apart is its high level of customization combined with convenience. Filled with personal photos, custom text, decorative details, and layered surprises, each box gives customers the freedom to create a gift that feels one-of-a-kind — without having to make it themselves.
At its core, Xplosion Box helps people turn favorite photos, stories, and words into something tangible: a keepsake that can be opened, revisited, and remembered long after the occasion has passed.
Chemotherapy and radiation have long been considered gold standards of cancer treatment, but they can cause severe side effects. A promising new approach called theranostics—a combination of “therapeutics” and “diagnostics”—could offer patients with certain types of metastatic cancers new hope. It’s a two-step process that uses a drug that binds to specific receptors on cancer cells. Advanced imaging detects this radioisotope, allowing doctors to then use a second radioisotope that binds to the cancer cells and destroys them. Click here to learn more about how specialists at Scripps Cancer Center are using theranostics.
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Daniel A. Kaplan is a founding partner of Panakos LLP with more than three decades of civil litigation experience in both state and federal courts. Mr. Kaplan pursues and defends legal claims on behalf of companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners in high-stakes disputes. He focuses on business disputes including breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secret theft, securities disputes, fraud/misrepresentations, and employment matters.
“The best advocacy combines preparation, perspective, and a client relationship built on trust and candor.” — Daniel A. Kaplan
His clients include real estate investors, private and public corporations, and individuals seeking sophisticated legal counsel. Known for practical judgment and strategic advocacy, he works closely with an experienced and diverse legal team to protect, enforce, and defend his clients’ interests.
555 W. Beech Street, Ste. 500, San Diego, California 92101 619-8000-LAW Panakos.law
At Naumann Law Firm, PC, William Naumann and his team have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages litigating construction defects, insurance, and government claims. Mr. Naumann has spent his career fighting for people in their hardest moments, from winning $7 million for homeowners after landslide damage to advocating for victims of 9/11.
“We always believe in working as hard as we can to maximize the recovery for the client.” — William Naumann, Esq.
Combining a personalized approach with a results-driven strategy, he’s helped homeowners associations, property owners, and individuals win against the largest developers, builders, insurers, and municipalities. His commitment is to secure the best possible results efficiently, whether through settlement or at trial.
10890 Thornmint Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92127 858-792-7474 naumannlegal.com
For nearly two decades, Andrew Hall has helped clients find practical, cost-effective legal solutions to complex real estate and business matters. At Hall Legal, APC, Andrew offers the experience of a large law firm with the hands-on service of a boutique practice. Whether navigating a business or real estate dispute, he guides clients through every stage of the legal process, from pre-litigation resolution to trials and appeals.
“Combining big-firm experience with boutique attention for California business and real estate legal services.”— Andrew Hall
He has represented a broad range of clients, including residential and commercial property owners and managers, landlords, tenants, homeowners, title and escrow companies, lenders, and real estate agents and brokers, while providing personalized, pragmatic service.
At Christensen & Spath LLP, Charles Christensen (right) and his partner, Walter Spath (left), provide personalized, comprehensive and cost-effective legal counsel. The firm specializes in real estate law, helping clients with everything from litigation to transactional matters.
“From boundary disputes to every aspect of acquisitions and sales, we provide full service to clients in the real estate arena.” — Charles Christensen
Mr. Christensen takes the time to understand his clients’ specific goals so he can develop solutions that are as efficient and effective as possible. This commitment, combined with his decades of experience and deep legal knowledge, has earned him and his firms the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating — the highest distinction an attorney can receive — for more than 35 years.
401 West A Street, Suite 2250, San Diego, California 92101 619-236-9343 candslaw.net
