James A. Crawford Jr. Award for Excellence

Jim’s career in advanced materials began at Fiber Materials in the early 1970s, where he was instrumental in pioneering the manual weaving of 3D carbon fiber preforms for missile nose tips. He not only designed and constantly reimagined the specialized looms required for this intricate work, but also oversaw the demanding process of densifying and carbonizing these structures—steps repeated over and over to achieve the necessary strength and density. The resulting components, shaped and tested under highly classified programs for the U.S. military, were critical to the reliability of intercontinental missile systems. As his expertise grew, Jim helped expand this technology to rocket nozzles and led the initial push toward automating the weaving process, marking a turning point in the field.

For this scholarship, preference given to students obtaining Textile Degree or Engineering or a program that is similar, must be 2.5 or higher GPA, selection based on evidence of their character and integrity, and preference given to those who have given back to their community. Based on Academic Achievement