GIA selects to give 54 scholarships for programmes this fall

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has awarded 54 scholarships toward Gemology and Jewelry Manufacturing Arts programs, courses and lab classes. The students, 54 in all will begin their courses for the fall edition. 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.

The scholarships included $1,500 awards for eLearning courses and $1,000 awards for U.S.-based lab classes, being supported by private donors and the GIA endowment fund. 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, 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.

GIA’s Junior Gemologist class introduces gemology to fourth through 12th graders and meets U.S. curriculum guidelines.

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 also 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; two full scholarships of up to $17,850 each for the new on-campus Jewelry Design & Technology program; two full scholarships of up to $21,089 each for the on-campus Graduate Gemologist program; 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 October 31 on the Institute’s website.