WJA’s 2014-15 scholarships go to eight students

Eight students have received scholarships from the Women’s Jewelry Association. The total value of the scholarships is $16,000 and is for the 2014-15 school year for undergraduate and graduate degree programs in jewelry and metalsmithing.

The 2014-2015 WJA Scholarship recipients included $4,000 June Herman Designer/Creator Scholarship Award given to Melissa Cousins, University of Georgia; $2,500 Myra Goldstein Designer/Creator Scholarship Award to Sylvie Alusitz, Rochester Institute of Technology; $2,000 Marilyn DaSilva Designer/Creator Scholarship Award to Eunwha Son, University of Kansas; $1,500 Designer/Creator Scholarship to Katelyn Butler, Missouri State University; $1,000 Designer/Creator Scholarship to Amanda Ortman, Virginia Commonwealth University; $1,000 Designer/Creator Scholarship to Lopeeta Tawde, University of Kansas; $2,000 Designer Scholarship to Maggie Horvath, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD); $2,000 Non-Designer Scholarship to Dorothy Cheng, West Dean College, UK.

This year’s scholarship applications were evaluated by a WJA scholarship jury, headed by Lisa Slovis Mandel, who serves as scholarship chair for the WJA Scholarship Fund Board of Trustees. Her committee included WJA representatives from across the country, representing all levels of the industry.

Funds for WJA scholarships are raised through the WJA’s annual Awards for Excellence Gala, Raffle, and Silent Auction; individual member donations; generous sponsors; and from funds such as the Marilyn DaSilva Fund, the June Herman Fund, and the Myra Goldstein Scholarship Fund. WJA has scheduled to host its WJA’s Awards for Excellence Gala on July 28, where funds raised will once again be earmarked for WJA scholarships and grants.