GIA opens school in Italy

GIA Education Vice President Brook Ellis and Florence Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Luca Mantellassi inaugrated GIA�s new school in Florence on October 13, 2005. Guests included the Director of the schools Fred Stocco, GIA Global Education Director Seung-Hae Moon, Franco Torrini, president of Torrini Jewelers, and others from the Italian jewelry and fashion industry. All current GIA Florence on Campus students joined the celebration, along with some visiting Distance Education students.

The school, located in the city�s center next to the Uffizi Museum and its world-famous Renaissance paintings and sculptures, occupies two floors with more than 10,000 square feet, three classrooms, and a student lounge. Classes at GIA Florence began on September 26, run consecutively in both English and Italian. In order to meet increased demand, GIA Florence has added more classes.

�The new classrooms have been greeted with enormous enthusiasm, and our new location in Florence has proven to be an ideal center for GIA in Italy,� said GIA Florence Director Federico Stocco. �It was great to see new and past students, colleagues, and friends all celebrating together. It was a wonderful day, and we are all very proud of what GIA has achieved.�

The Jewel Museum, a particularly appealing feature of the new school, housed a special exhibit of Renaissance period costumes. They were created by the famous Florentine tailor, Sartoria Teatrale Antonietta, who for many years has designed costumes for theatre shows, opera performances, and prestigious events in Tuscany. A press conference was also arranged for the local media.