GIA Adds Scholarship Memorializing Former VP Operations

GIA Announces Tawfic Farah Memorial Scholarship

Institute also awards scholarships to 151 students in 29 countries

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has announced the Tawfic Farah Memorial Scholarship, which will be offered beginning June 15, 2014. The annual scholarship will award full tuition for an on-campus student to pursue their Graduate Gemologist (GG) diploma, including the required Diamond Grading, Colored Stone Grading and Gem Identification lab classes. The first scholarship will be for a student at GIA’s campus in Mumbai, and will rotate throughout GIA’s global campuses in subsequent years. The application period each year will run through Oct. 31 and is available on GIA’s website atgia.edu/scholarships.

Tawfic Farah, GIA’s former vice president of
International Operations.  Image © GIA

Tawfic Farah, GIA’s vice president of International Operations who passed away in May 2013, made a lasting and important contribution to the Institute’s mission by building strong relationships in Africa and the Middle East; working tirelessly to expand education and beneficiation efforts in Africa; and supporting the global expansion of GIA’s services. He served GIA and the global public for 10 years with a passion and drive bolstered by humor and compassion.

“Tawfic helped countless people, both students and members of the trade, by working to bring GIA’s education programs to communities involved in the gem and jewelry industry throughout the world. He helped build GIA’s relationships with governments and to create opportunities and choices where few had previously existed,” said Susan Jacques, GIA’s president and CEO. “In keeping with the vision Tawfic gifted to GIA, we honor him in a way that reflects his personal passion and continues the great contributions he made to the communities that are part of our industry. His always positive and effervescent presence will be greatly missed.”

In Jan. 2014 the Institute awarded its Fall 2013 scholarships to 151 students in 29 countries. The scholarships, totaling more than $500,000, align with GIA’s goals of providing quality education in gemology and jewelry to the trade and aspiring professionals. Supported by private donors and the GIA endowment fund, these scholarships supplement GIA’s wider scope of offerings. Recipients are eligible to participate in distance education eLearning courses and on-campus classes in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York and Taiwan; and at the GIA branch in Dubai. 

In 2013, GIA awarded nearly $600,000 in scholarships to 190 students throughout the world.

About GIA

An 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.