The American Gem Society (AGS) will receive a $50,000 grant from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) to fund awards for GIA education for AGS members, bringing GIA’s financial support for AGS to nearly $150,000 for 2018.

Announcing the grant at the Robert M. Shipley Award® luncheon during the recent AGS Conclave in Nashville, Tennessee, GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques said, “We are thrilled to be able to support AGS with this education grant. Education and certification are the core competencies of our closely related organizations and they are the keys to helping jewelers reach success.” Jacques continued, “Through our closely aligned missions, AGS and GIA protect consumers and ensure their trust in gems and jewellery.”

“I would like to thank the entire team at GIA and the Institute’s Board of Governors for this generous grant,” said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories. “This gift will allow AGS members access to the education they need to obtain their titles. We are extremely grateful and look forward to working together to fulfill our founder's vision of consumer protection.”

AGS will administer the awards. Eligible recipients must be AGS members and meet certain requirements. AGS members interested in the awards may contact AGS at (702) 255-6500 ext. 1034; email AGSeducation@ags.org.

Both GIA and AGS were founded in the 1930s by Robert M. Shipley to help realize his vision that educated jewelers would, in his words, “become masters of the subject matter’ and ‘members of a whole new kind of association – a true guild.” GIA offers education and diplomas; AGS offers the guild structure and professional credentials. Each organization brings their strengths to the common missions of protecting consumers and ensuring their trust in gems and jewellery.

GIA will also sponsor the GIA Diamond Grading, Gem Identification and Coloured Stone Grading lab classes offered at AGS in Las Vegas this year.