Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State mechanical engineering student Justin M. Crapps is among a select group winning a prestigious $2,000 Rothermel national grant.
The annual Marjorie Roy Rothermel Graduate Scholarships of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Auxiliary recognize outstanding scholastic achievement and excellent character among students in the field.
"You have earned the distinction as one of four students selected nationally this year," said scholarship committee chair Elizabeth Prochaska in her recent notification letter to the Florence, Ala., resident. "We commend you and wish you continued success."
A May magna cum laude graduate in mechanical engineering, Crapps now is seeking a master's degree in the field, also in MSU's James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. The son of Kerwin and Donna Crapps, he was a President's Scholar and University Honors Program participant during his undergraduate studies.
He earlier was named the 2004-05 silver medalist in the national Charles T. Main Award Competition of the ASME, placing second to gold medalist Mandy L. Brogdon of the University of Dayton (Ohio) as most outstanding national student leader.
"This is a well-deserved honor for Justin," said Glenn Steele, head of the MSU mechanical engineering department.
Crapps was Ingersoll-Rand campus coordinator for the ASME student chapter, which ranked third in 2004-05 national competition recognizing outstanding activities and leadership.
He continues as business manager for Mississippi State's Challenge X team, which is seeking to design an alternative powered vehicle as part of a national, three-year competition featuring teams from 17 universities.
NEWS EDITORS: For more information, contact Crapps at (662) 312-3251 or jcrapps@cavs.msstate.edu; or Julie Lemons at 325-8098 or jlemons@engr.msstate.edu.