GIA Awards 54 Scholarships for Fall 2013
Recipients embark on programs, courses and lab classes
54 students will begin their studies at GIA (Gemological Institute of America) this fall with scholarships toward Gemology and Jewelry Manufacturing Arts programs, courses and lab classes. For the first time, a GIA student will receive the “Dr. Geoffrey Smith Scholarship,” which sponsors a student who previously participated in the GIA Junior Gemologist Program™. The scholarships align with GIA’s goals of providing quality education in gemology and jewelry to the trade and aspiring professionals.
A number of $1,500 awards for eLearning courses and $1,000 awards for U.S.-based lab classes were awarded. The scholarships, supported by private donors and the GIA endowment fund, supplement GIA’s wider scope of offerings. Recipients are eligible to participate in distance education eLearning courses and for classes at campuses in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York and Taiwan; and at the GIA branch in Dubai.
“GIA’s Junior Gemologist program is a fun beginning to a lifelong journey of learning about gems. My interest in gems and minerals began in elementary school – around the same age as these students – and I hope this scholarship will enable and encourage more kids to turn their passion for gems into a career,” said Dr. Smith. GIA’s Junior Gemologist class introduces gemology to fourth through 12th graders and meets U.S. curriculum guidelines. Dr. Smith is a long-time GIA volunteer who created the fund as an incentive for Junior Gemologist students passionate about gemology to consider it as a career path.
During GIA’s bi-yearly scholarship application period, students can apply for all scholarships online and indicate an interest in a broad spectrum of courses, ranging from lab and jewelry manufacturing arts to those that go toward a Graduate Gemologist diploma. GIA is now accepting scholarship applications for its 2014 Gemology and Jewelry Manufacturing Arts programs, courses and lab classes. U.S. scholarship highlights include:
- The GIA Scholarship for U.S. Veterans will award three scholarships of up to $1,500 each
- GIA will award two full scholarships of up to $17,850 each for the new on-campus Jewelry Design and Technology program
- GIA will award two full scholarships of up to $21,089 each for the on-campus Graduate Gemologist program
- GIA will award one full scholarship of up to $19,260 for the new on-campus Graduate Jeweler program
- Two scholarships will be offered in honor of Richard T. Liddicoat, former GIA president considered the “Father of Modern Gemology.”
- One full scholarship for the on-campus Graduate Gemologist program (up to $21,089),
- and another toward the eLearning Graduate Gemologist program (up to $9,000)
Applications will be available through Oct. 31 on the Institute’s website. Additional scholarship details are availablehere. For more information, call (760) 603-4131 or email scholarship@gia.edu.
About GIAAn independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.
Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. Visit www.gia.edu.
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