Award Recipient Showcases Resilience, Dedication to Academics, and Military Studies: Academic and Military Achievements Lauded
With a heart full of grit and an unyielding spirit, Textile Engineering major and former Marine, Justin Rigdon, 27, has been forging his own path since he ditched books for barracks. His trip to graduation has been anything but straight and smooth, but the winner of an Alumni Association Mathews Medal wouldn't have it any other way.
Born into a military family, Rigdon took pride in following in his ancestors' footsteps by joining the Marines after high school. "I was smart, but I was also lazy. I had no discipline for college then," he confesses. However, he had something else – an insatiable hunger for challenges. Naturally, he chose one of the toughest paths – the Marines.
In 2007, he served with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines at Camp Lejeune, and from 2008 to 2009, he patrolled Ramadi and trained Iraqi police as an Infantry Assaultman. A medical discharge sent him back home in 2012.
Remember when they said education was the key to opportunity? Rigdon began his seven-year academic journey in 2010, while still on active duty. He started his studies at Coastal Carolina Community College, with dreams of becoming a physician. Those three years taught him lessons in leadership, schooling basics, and about the civilian world in a relaxed environment filled with fellow Marines.
After speaking with Wilson College of Textiles professors during an engineering open house, Rigdon shifted focus and transferred to NC State University in Fall 2013. Injuries sustained during military service led him to pursue textile engineering, hoping to improve body armor for his family in uniform.
His time at NC State sent him down two unique paths. The first led him away from armor, opening up exciting opportunities in textile composites – fiber-reinforced materials renowned for their exceptional strength, low density, and fatigue resistance. He worked closely with textile composites whiz Dr. Philip Bradford and completed undergraduate research with him. In turn, Bradford helped him secure internships at Beaufort Composite Technologies, as well as the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C.
"Justin arrived at NC State with a burning passion for textile composite materials, on par with my own," says Bradford, an associate professor in the Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science department. "He has been a joy to teach and lead in research."
The second path led him to fulfill his goal of making a difference for his military family. He became the president of NC State's Student Veterans Association (SVA) for the last two years. This role allowed him to champion the needs of active military, veterans, and ROTC students on campus, creating a culture where they could thrive.
"I wanted to make life better for our veterans, and I found a different route through NC State," says Rigdon. He spearheaded efforts to create the Military and Veteran Resource Center, an on-campus hub for military-affiliated students, and helped appoint Army veteran Nicholas Drake as the director of Military and Veteran Services.
Through his leadership, Rigdon made a significant impact on NC State's veteran community, earning him the 2017 Peter R. Lord Textile Engineering and Textile Technology Design Leadership Award, voted on by his peers. With graduation just around the corner and an impressive list of awards under his belt, Rigdon says it's been a long, but rewarding journey.
The road may not have been easy, but Rigdon is unstoppable. As he prepares to don his cap and gown, his goal remains the same – to provide his children with the best opportunities possible. "I did it all because I have to," he says. "I want to give my children every advantage. I may have joined the Marines to test myself, but I stayed in the fight to change people's lives."
- Justin Rigdon, a Textile Engineering major and former Marine, has been pursuing his academic journey since 2010, demonstrating his resilience and determination.
- In 2013, Rigdon transferred to NC State University with a focus on textile engineering, aiming to improve body armor for military personnel like his family.
- Rigdon's time at NC State saw him delve into research in textile composites, working closely with Dr. Philip Bradford, a renowned expert in the field.
- Rigdon's efforts in textile composites led him to secure internships at Beaufort Composite Technologies and the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, N.C.
- In addition to his focus on textile composites, Rigdon became the president of NC State's Student Veterans Association (SVA) for the last two years, championing the needs of active military, veterans, and ROTC students.
- Rigdon's leadership in the SVA led to the creation of the Military and Veteran Resource Center, an on-campus hub for military-affiliated students.
- Rigdon's work in both textile composites research and military student advocacy earned him the 2017 Peter R. Lord Textile Engineering and Textile Technology Design Leadership Award.
- With graduation approaching, Rigdon reflects on his journey, stating that it has been long but rewarding, all for the sake of providing his children with the best opportunities possible.
