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Friday, July 29, 2016

AGTA Announces 2016 Summer AGTA Spectrum Award & Cutting Edge Award Winners

From a Press Release


AGTA Announces 2016 Summer AGTA 
Spectrum Awards™ Winners


The American Gem Trade Association is delighted to announce the winners of the prestigious AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM. The competition was held in New York on July 23rd and 24th and is regarded as the world's preeminent colored gemstone and cultured pearl design competition. The prestigious judges for the competition this year were the following: Gail Brett-Levine of National Association of Jewelry Appraisers; Diane Garmendia of 33 Jewels at El Paseo; Jay Mednikow of J.H. Mednikow & Co., Inc.; Victor Velyan of Victor-Christy Studios; and Lew Wackler of Lew Wackler Gem Co.


“What a spectacular collection of winners!” said Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA CEO. “The AGTA Spectrum Awards™ always showcases the best, most innovative and the most exciting evolutions in the design and colored gemstone industry and this year was certainly no exception. Unquestionably the quality of the gemstones and metals in the craftsmanship was elevated this year in all of the entries we received, and that was evident in the choices our expert judges made.”

Winners of the 2016 Summer AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM are:


Editor's Choice Award 
(voted on by Editors attending the event):

Ricardo Basta of E.Eichberg 
Tanzanite, Opal, Tsavorite Garnet & Diamond Ring






Best of…..

Best of Show:

Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems 
Suite of round, brilliant Russian demantoid Garnets (24.67 ctw.).


Best Use of Color
Derek Katzenbach, Katzenbach Designs 

14K white gold ring featuring a 4.97 ct. bicolored Tourmaline accented with tsavorite Garnets, Tourmalines and Diamonds (.69 ctw.).
Best Use of Pearls
Judy Evans, Oliver & Espig Gallery of Fine Arts 

Platinum pendant featuring a 13.44mm golden South Sea cultured Pearl accented with Diamonds.

Best Use of Platinum and Color
Kathy Kinev, Jewel Creations, Inc. 

Platinum "St. Chapelle" ring featuring Rubies, Sapphires, Tsavorite Garnets and blue and white Diamonds.





Fashion Forward
Lorenzo Chavez, Geogem-USA 

Platinum and 18K yellow and rose gold "Gift from the Abyss" pendant featuring a 124.73 ct. carved Kunzite accented with blue Zircons and Diamonds (.82 ctw.).




Spectrum Bridal Wear

Bridal Wear - 1st Place and Platinum Honors

Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc. 

Platinum "Royal Blue" ring featuring a 12.00 ct. blue Sapphire accented with Diamonds (2.59 ctw.). The ring features a detachable 18K yellow gold "Quilt" jacket featuring Turquoise accented with Diamonds (.43 ctw.) and tsavorite Garnets (.16 ctw.).





Bridal Wear - 2nd Place
Alexia Connellan, Alexia Connellan Luxury Jewelry - Platinum "Regency Earrings" featuring mint Tourmalines (8.63 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (2.50 ctw.).


Bridal Wear - 3rd Place
Caroline Chartouni, Caroline C - 18K white gold earrings featuring red Spinels accented with Diamonds.


Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention
Jessica Neiwert, Jessica Nei - 18K rose gold "Snow Blossom" convertible earrings featuring lavender Chalcedony (13.50 ctw.) accented with Moonstones (1.66 ctw.), pink Sapphires (.41 ctw.), Amethysts (.29 ctw.) and Diamonds (.54 ctw.).


Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention
Samuel Sulimanov, Samuel Sylvio Designs - 18K white gold earrings featuring Paraiba Tourmalines (3.0 ctw.) accented with Paraiba Tourmaline melee (.68 ctw.) and Diamonds.


Bridal Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Dennis de Jonghe, deJonghe Original Jewelry - Platinum ring featuring a 2.20 ct. Aquamarine accented with Diamonds (0.40 ctw.).


Bridal Wear - Entry Platinum Innovation
William Travis, William Travis Jewelry - Platinum band featuring blue Sapphires (.54 ctw.), cognac Diamonds (.18 ctw.) and colorless Diamonds (.18 ctw.).


Bridal Wear – GEM DIVA Award
Heena Chheda Shah, Real Gems, Inc. - 18K white gold "Rosalyn" earrings featuring eight pear-shaped Emeralds (15.89 ctw.) accented with fancy and round Diamonds (3.49 ctw.).



Business/Day Wear

Business/Day Wear - 1st Place
Ricardo Basta, E. Eichberg, Inc. 

18K yellow gold and platinum "Honey" ring featuring a 13.58 ct. Heliodor accented with Sapphires (.82 ctw.) and Diamonds (.96 ctw.).







Business/Day Wear - 2nd Place
T. Foster & Co, Fine Jewelers, T. Foster & Co, Fine Jewelers - 18K yellow gold and platinum ring featuring a 22.93 ct. orange Sapphire accented with Diamonds.


Business/Day Wear - 3rd Place
Zoltan David, Zoltan David, LLC - Palladium and 22K yellow gold ring featuring a 4.12 ct. Danburite accented with blue Sapphires (.42 ctw.).


Business/Day Wear - Honorable Mention
Shuang Feng, Fon Shon Jewellery Art & Design - 14K white gold with 18K rose gold plating ring featuring an oval Morganite accented with Diamonds.


Business/Day Wear - Honorable Mention
Patrick King, Jewelsmith - 14K white and yellow gold pendant featuring a 31.94 ct. lemon Quartz accented with a 2.96 ct. Opal and Diamonds (.15 ctw.).


Business/Day Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Llyn Strong, llyn strong fine art jewelry - 18K yellow gold earrings featuring bezel-set Rubies (1.56 ctw).


Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors
John Ford, Lightning Ridge Collection by John Ford - Platinum "Mirror" ring featuring a 3.65 ct. black Opal accented with Diamonds (.69 ctw.).


Business/Day Wear - Entry Platinum Innovation
Jill Maurer, Jill Maurer - Platinum "Verge" ring featuring an 11.19 ct. golden Zircon accented with natural colored Diamonds (1.23 ctw.).


Business/Day Wear – GEM DIVA Award
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - 18K palladium white gold "Confetti Heart" ring featuring multicolored Diamonds, Sapphires, Rubies and Amethysts.



Classical

Classical - 1st Place

Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc. 

18K rose gold ring featuring a 4.01 ct. cushion-cut pink Spinel accented with Spinel melee (.52 ctw.), Diamond melee (.82 ctw.) and a .01 ct. Alexandrite.









Classical - 2nd Place
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc. - Platinum and black rhodium ring featuring three Alexandrites (6.99 ctw.) accented with Alexandrite melee (1.64 ctw.) and Diamonds (.91 ctw.).


Classical - 3rd Place
Alexia Connellan, Alexia Connellan Luxury Jewelry - 18K rose gold "Spiral Earrings" featuring Morganites (9.50 ctw.) accented with Akoya cultured Pearls (8.02 ctw.), Sapphires (1.08 ctw.) and Diamonds (.85 ctw.).


Classical - Honorable Mention and Entry Platinum Innovation
Lindsay Jane, Lindsay Jane Designs - Platinum ring featuring a 7.77 ct. Moonstone accented with purple and blue Sapphires (0.97 ctw.) and Diamonds (0.52 ctw.).


Classical - Honorable Mention and GEM DIVA Award
Heena Chheda Shah, Real Gems, Inc. - 18K white gold "Bridget" ring featuring a 3.08 ct. oval Ruby accented with round Rubies (.31 ctw.) and round and pearDiamonds (3.87 ctw.).


Classical - Manufacturing Honors
Dominique Israileff, ASBA USA, INC. - 14K rose gold pendant featuring a 13mm Tahitian cultured Pearl accented with Diamonds (.37 ctw.).


Classical - Platinum Honors
Zoltan David, Zoltan David, LLC - Platinum pendant featuring a 35.63 ct. marquis Moonstone cabochon set in blue patina bronze on a strand of cabochon Moonstones (18.20 ctw.) and Diamonds (1.20 ctw.).






Evening Wear

Evening Wear - 1st Place
David Gross, David Gross Group 

Platinum necklace featuring 21 unheated Mozambique Rubies (29.33 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (21.61 ctw.).

Evening Wear - 2nd Place
Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith - 18K yellow gold and platinum ring featuring a 13.53 ct. black Opal accented with Sapphires (1.01 ctw.) and Diamonds (.07 ctw.).


Evening Wear - 3rd Place
Robert Pelliccia, J.R. Dunn Jewelers - 18K yellow and white gold pendant featuring a 23.94 ct. boulder Opal accented with blue and pink Sapphires (.58 ctw.) and Diamonds (.92 ctw.) on a black Diamond bead necklace.


Evening Wear - Honorable Mention
Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney, Inc. - 18K yellow gold "Easter Egg" ring featuring a 7.46 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline accented with Paraiba Tourmalines (1.09 ctw.) and Diamonds (2.45 ctw.).


Evening Wear - Honorable Mention
Sinork Agdere, Lord Jewelry - 18K yellow gold and platinum "Ballerina" ring featuring a 65.0 ct. specialty-cut lemon Citrine accented with Diamonds and enamel.


Evening Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Llyn Strong, llyn strong fine art jewelry - 18K rose gold "Calla Lily" ring featuring a 5.17 ct. rose-cut green Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (0.03 ctw).


Evening Wear - Platinum Honors
John Ford, Lightning Ridge Collection by John Ford - Platinum "Electric Blue" necklace featuring black Opal (197 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (6.27 ctw.).


Evening Wear – GEM DIVA Award
Alexia Connellan, Alexia Connellan Luxury Jewelry - Platinum "The Fringe Earrings" featuring bicolored Tourmalines (20.32 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (1.50 ctw.).








Men's Wear

Men's Wear – 1st Place and Platinum Honors
Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design - Platinum and 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 8.76 ct. Maw Sit Sit accented with black, white and yellow Diamonds (2.27 ctw.) and tsavorite Garnets (.93 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 2nd Place
William Travis, William Travis Jewelry 

Silver and 18K yellow gold ring a featuring 17.67 ct. carved Lapis Lazuli scarab beetle accented with orange Sapphires (.96 ctw.).




Men's Wear - 3rd Place
Craig Slavens, Studio 247 Fine Jewelry - Carbon fiber, platinum and 18K rose gold ring featuring a 4.52 ct. unheated Padparadscha Sapphire accented with Diamonds (.39 ctw.).



Men's Wear - Honorable Mention
William Travis, William Travis Jewelry - Platinum band featuring blue Sapphires (.54 ctw.), cognac Diamonds (.18 ctw.) and colorless Diamonds (.18 ctw.).





Cutting Edge


All Other Faceted


All Other Faceted - 1st Place


Jeffrey R. Hapeman, Earth's Treasury LLC
 

42.47 ct. brilliant square cushion specialty-cut Apatite.


All Other Faceted - 2nd Place
Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad's - 12.44 ct. square cushion tsavorite Garnet.



All Other Faceted - 3rd Place
Ambassador Gems, Ambassador Gems - 24.12 ct. cushion-cut blue Zircon.



All Other Faceted - Honorable Mention
Hemant Phophaliya, A G Color, Inc. - 48.62 ct. sugarloaf Tanzanite.






Carving

Carving - 1st Place
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs 

Hand-carved Ametrine (297 ctw.).


Carving - 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. - Aquamarine carving titled 'Sydney Symphony" (53.63 ctw.).


Carving - 3rd Place
Meg Berry, Mega Gem - 21.70 ct. pyrope Garnet titled "Rooster."


Carving - Honorable Mention
Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - Rutilated Quartz carving (1375 ctw.).





Classic Gemstone

Classic Gemstone - 1st Place
Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems 
10.11 ct. Sri Lankan cushion-cut orange Sapphire.

Classic Gemstone - 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - 20.03 ct. unheated emerald-cut yellow Sapphire.



Classic Gemstone - 3rd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - 15.01 ct. emerald-cut blue Sapphire.



Classic Gemstone - Honorable Mention
Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems - 7.22 ct. cushion-cut Padparadscha Sapphire.







Innovative Faceting

Innovative Faceting - 1st Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. 

80.29 ct. specialty-cut Ametrine.

Innovative Faceting - 2nd Place
John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. - 175.37 ct. deep concave cushion-cut Morganite titled "Mozambique Sunset."



Innovative Faceting - 3rd Place
Ryan Joseph Anderson, Ryan Joseph Gems - 89.41 ct. Amethyst, titled "Efflorescence."



Innovative Faceting - Honorable Mention
Glenn Wm. Lehrer, Lehrer Designs, Inc. - 30.79 ct. Danburite and a 1.03 ct. Ruby titled "KaleidosCut." When placed together, they create an 8-pointed star in the Danburite.





Objects of Art

Objects of Art - Honorable Mention
Brenda Smith, Brenda Smith Jewelry 

"Light My Fire" object of art featuring Opalized wood (250 ctw.) accented with a hand-carved 75.0 ct. Sunstone flame, 40.0 ct. hand-carved Mexican fire Opal and Diamonds (.20 ctw.).



Objects of Art - Honorable Mention
Neda Behnam, Samuel B. Collection 

18K yellow gold "Stallion" statue featuring champagne Diamonds (7.81 ctw.) accented with tsavorite Garnets and Mother-of-Pearl on an Onyx base.




Pairs & Suites

Pairs & Suites - 1st Place and Best of Show

Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems 

Suite of round, brilliant Russian demantoid Garnets (24.67 ctw.).





Pairs & Suites - 2nd Place
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - Suite of pear-shaped unheated Mozambique Rubies (18.77 ctw.).


Pairs & Suites - 3rd Place
Ben Kho, Kho International, Ltd. - Suite of round Rhodochrosite (17.26 ctw.).


Pairs & Suites - Honorable Mention
Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co. - Earring suite of oval pink and purple (unheated) Sapphires (17.23 ctw.).






Phenomenal

Phenomenal - 1st Place
Gil, Gil Int'l - 5.56 ct. untreated Alexandrite.




Phenomenal - 2nd Place
Robert Shapiro, Robert Shapiro - 10.05 ct. oval boulder Opal.



Phenomenal - 3rd Place
Manu Nichani, Blue Moon Ent. - 19.07 ct. royal blue rectangular, cushion-cut Moonstone.



Phenomenal - Honorable Mention
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc. - 103.80 ct. cabochon boulder Opal.


This year's AGTA Spectrum Awards™ will be presented during the 2017 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson to be held January 31 – February 5 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona. Winning entries will be displayed during the show and AGTA Spectrum Awards™ recipients will be recognized during the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Gala, on Saturday, February 4. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged.

AGTA Spectrum Awards™  entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad‐base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones.

AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™  honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings and other gem materials.

Bridal Wear sponsored by The Knot - The Knot sponsored the Bridal Wear division of the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ for the fifth year. As the #1 wedding network in the U.S., reaching 80% of brides, The Knot represents an opportunity for unprecedented exposure for Spectrum entrants. Whether gracing the bridesmaids or donning the bride, herself, this category captures all looks coming down the aisle. Engagement rings, wedding bands, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and tiaras should be considered.

Platinum Honors™, sponsored by Platinum Guild International, recognizes outstanding use of platinum in colored gemstone and/or pearl jewelry in the five Spectrum Awards categories and for the Best Use of Color and Platinum. Platinum Honors™ Entry Platinum Honors – Bridal Wear under $2,500 (semi-mount only), Platinum Honors Innovation – Classical under $3,500 and Platinum Honors Innovation – Day Wear under $2,000.

WJA GEM DIVA TM Awards celebrated its fifth year of association with the competition. WJA GEM DIVATM Awards were presented in the Bridal Wear, Evening Wear, Classical and Business/Day Wear categories. All women who entered the AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM competition were eligible for this category.

Manufacturing Honors recognizes outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities. All designs that qualify for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition will also automatically be qualified for Manufacturing Honors judging.

Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl in artful, trend‐setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualified for judging in the AGTA Spectrum AwardsTM competition automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.

The American Gem Trade Association is a not‐for‐profit Association serving the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry since 1981. The AGTA serves the industry as "The Authority in Color" and has its headquarter office in Dallas, Texas.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Recognized Jewelry Designer Brenda Smith For Her "Light My Fire" Object d'Art



Award Winning Jewelry Designer Brenda Smith
Recognized For Her "Light My Fire" Object d'Art
AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Announced July 25th





The American Gem Trade Association has announced the winners of the prestigious AGTA Spectrum Awards™. The competition was held in New York on July 23rd and 24th. Often referred to as the "Academy Awards of the Jewelry Industry", the AGTA awards are regarded as the world's preeminent colored gemstone and cultured pearl design competition.


As you can imagine Brenda was beside herself when she heard...she WON!
“I had put it out of my mind  since I hadn’t heard anything….assuming the winners had already been announced.  Then, I received the phone call from AGTA, you could’ve knocked me over with a feather.  I immediately called my husband who had flowers awaiting my return home. What an honor!”



AGTA Announced:
Objects of Art - Honorable Mention
Brenda Smith, Brenda Smith Jewelry - "Light My Fire" object of art - Opalized Wood (250 ctw.) with a hand-carved 75.0 ct. Sunstone flame, 40.0 ct. hand-carved Mexican fire Opal and Diamonds (.20 ctw.).


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A true labor of love, "Light My Fire" was a step out of her comfort zone. With this piece you not only have a piece of custom designed jewelry but it becomes a miniature piece of sculpture when you aren't wearing it.


Imagined by Brenda who was inspired by a stunning piece of Sunstone rough.  Master Carver Darryl Alexander was commissioned to carve the Sunstone Flame and Mexican Fire Opal Embers.


"Light My Fire" is":


  • Hand fabricated sterling silver and gold matchsticks linked to make a chain
  • Flaming Oregon Sunstone encircled in sterling silver with a .20ct diamond at the bottom where it sits atop the base, igniting the flame.
  • When removed from the chain the flame connects to the base of opalized and petrified logs. "Hot Coals" carved from Mexican Fire Opal which is backed by a flickering LED light under the oxidized copper "firebox", creating a flickering flame effect.



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From the carver, Darryl Alexander:
"AGTA spectrum award winner in the art object category by Brenda Smith.   I mined the piece of Sunstone myself from the Dust Devil Mine, (Plush, Oregon) the piece lights up to look like a flickering fire inside the gem."


The awards were chosen by a panel of prestigious judges: Gail Brett-Levine of National Association of Jewelry Appraisers; Diane Garmendia of 33 Jewels at El Paseo; Jay Mednikow of J.H. Mednikow & Co., Inc.; Victor Velyan of Victor-Christy Studios; and Lew Wackler of Lew Wackler Gem Co.


logo.pngABOUT BRENDA SMITH JEWELRY
Highly unique, one-of-a-kind and custom jewelry in noble metals and gemstones by award-winning jewelry artist Brenda Smith.  A former creative director and design teacher, now designing and fabricating fine, custom jewelry. Brenda has been published in Jewelry Artist, UK's Gem and Jewellery, AGTA's Prism, Canada's Jewellery Business," teacher at William holland School of Lapidary Arts and the Georgia Goldsmith's Group. Multiple award winner of the prestigious International Pearl Design Competition by Cultured Pearl Association of America. She was commissioned to design pearl jewelry for their documentary film, "Circling the Pacific" by the Cultured Pearl Association of America. Her jewelry has been chosen by celebrity stylist, Michael O'Connor, to be worn in the Academy awards. But her greatest achievement may be the number of pieces in private and public collections around the world, including pieces in the Smithsonian Institution.
Website: http://www.brendasmithjewelry.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaSmithJewelry




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ABOUT AGTA SPECTRUM AWARDS


The American Gem Trade Association is a not‐for‐profit Association serving the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry since 1981. The AGTA serves the industry as "The Authority in Color" and has its headquarter office in Dallas, Texas.
Website :  http://www.agta.org

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AGTASpectrumAwards

GIA Pilots Automated Melee Analysis Service for Round D-to-Z Diamond Melee

From a Press Release

One of the major hot button issues in the Industry has been the introduction of synthetic or "cultured" Diamonds.  Whether you are a small shop, a large chain or the independant jewelry designer - this topic matters.  It is going to take concentration and some organizational skills to keep synthetics (especially melee) separate on your work bench.....


GIA Pilots Melee Analysis Service for Diamonds
Automated analysis and color sorting for round D-to-Z melee

To address concerns in the gem and jewelry industry about the possibility of synthetic or treated diamonds being mixed into parcels of melee, GIA has developed a fully automated system to rapidly and accurately analyze and sort round D-to-Z melee-size diamonds.


The pilot for the GIA Melee Analysis Service launched last month at GIA’s New York laboratory.  Current clients wishing to participate in the pilot should contact their client service representative. The service will be offered at all GIA locations, with the roll out beginning in the third quarter of 2016.

“This system, which incorporates proven instrumentation, standards and processes used in GIA laboratories, will give the industry and consumers confidence in the characteristics, including color, of these most prevalent stones,” said Tom Moses, GIA’s executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer.

The GIA Melee Analysis Service will separate natural, untreated diamonds from simulants and potentially synthetic or treated diamonds, and sort the screened diamonds by color range. Clients can also specify a size range for their parcel. The system applies GIA’s decades of research into and examination of treated and synthetic diamonds, and will process about 1,800 stones per hour around the clock.

The system can accommodate stones from 1.1 to 3.8 mm in diameter (approximately 0.005 ct to about 0.20 ct.) The cost of the service ranges from eight to 30 cents (U.S.) per stone based on diameter, with a minimum of 500 pieces in each parcel. Once sorted, the melee will be sealed in secure packaging for shipment directly to a third party – upon request and when permissible – or back to the submitting client.



About GIAAn 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.

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