GIA Florence - School Closed...GIA Assisting in Transition

So sad to hear - please pass the information on - GIA is trying to step up and assist students currently enrolled in the Florence school!

Sept. 7, 2011   Dear GIA Alumni and Students,   As part of our GIA family, we strive to keep you informed and to seek your ongoing assistance in furthering education. As such, I want to make you aware that GIA has terminated its agreement with the owners of the licensee school in Florence, Italy. The outside party that owns the school provided GIA educational programs through its license agreement with GIA. The Institute has been informed that the owners of the licensee school intend to file for bankruptcy.   Our commitment is to the students who are enrolled in the Florence school. We are trying to locate and contact those currently enrolled there so we can help them with their transitional plans. We are requesting your assistance in locating them.   Students enrolled at GIA Florence will be offered options to continue their education: Transitional assistance to another GIA campus, such as in London, which is in close proximity to Florence, or to Distance Education Full refund for fees paid for those electing not to continue their GIA education GIA is stepping in to offer alternatives to all enrolled students who contact us. Although the school in Florence is not owned nor controlled by GIA, we are deeply concerned about the students and want to ensure they receive the finest gemological education.   If you have any information regarding students currently enrolled at GIA Florence, please emailGIAFlorenceHelp@gia.edu or call (760) 603-4001.   As GIA Alumni and students, you understand the importance of education and how fostering new talent in gemology helps the industry.   Thank you for your time and consideration.   Sincerely,   Donna Baker President and CEO GIA

Close to $7,000 in Scholarships from MJSA

MJSA Education Foundation Awards Nearly $7,000 in Student Scholarships

 

ATTLEBORO FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS--The MJSA Education Foundation has awarded scholarships to six students who are currently pursuing degrees in jewelry making and design, and who all show exceptional talent and promise for successful professional careers. They are:

Tamara Allison ($1,500 scholarship) of Wichita Falls, Texas, who is completing a BFA in Metals and Jewelry at Midwestern State University, also in Wichita Falls. She plans to graduate in December of this year.

Leslie Boyd ($1,500 scholarship) of Brooklyn, New York, who is working toward an MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. She expects to graduate in 2013.

Carol Salisbury ($1,500 scholarship) of Lawrence, Kansas, who is pursuing an MFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry at the University of Kansas, also in Lawrence. The recipient of three previous Foundation scholarships, she expects to graduate in May 2012.

Nicole D'Entremont ($800 scholarship) of Medford, Massachusetts, who is pursuing a BFA in Fine Arts at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She plans to graduate in May 2012.

Maresha Robinson ($800 scholarship) of Oakland, California, who is seeking a Graduate Bench Jeweler Diploma from the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco. She expects to complete her diploma requirements by the summer of 2012.

Shalena White ($800 scholarship) of Austin, Texas, who is working toward an MFA in Studio Art: Metals/Jewelry at the University of Texas at Austin. She expects to graduate in 2014.

Since 1997, the MJSA Education Foundation, a 501(c) 3 subsidiary of MJSA, has awarded nearly $160,000 in scholarships to students enrolled in jewelry design, jewelry making, or other jewelry-related degree programs at colleges, universities, and technical schools throughout the United States. Funds for the scholarships are generated through the MJSA Education Foundation Scholarship Group, which consists of six permanent endowment funds managed by the Rhode Island Community Foundation on behalf of MJSA and the MJSA Education Foundation.

Any student enrolled in a jewelry program, who intends to pursue a career in the jewelry industry, and who can demonstrate financial need is eligible to apply for an MJSA Education Foundation scholarship. Applicants are assessed on the basis of course of study, academics, career plans, recommendations, and industry experience. Students must be U.S. citizens.

To learn more, visit the MJSA Career Center at mjsa.org.

About MJSA 

MJSA is the U.S. trade association for jewelry makers, designers, and related suppliers. It provides the resources to achieve professional excellence and maintain a competitive edge. For more information, call MJSA at 1-800-444-6572 or visit www.mjsa.org.