Jewelry Group Awards $35K in Scholarships

RAPAPORT… The Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation (WJAF) has revealed the winners of its 2021 Excellence Awards.

The group will award a total of $35,000 to 12 women, using funds that it raises at its annual Awards for Excellence Gala, it said last week. The prizes range from $1,000 to $5,000 each and are offered in five categories: The Cindy Edelstein Jewelry Design Scholarship, the Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship, Designer, Designer/Creator, and Non-Designer. Recipients must use the money to pay for their education and advance their professional careers.

WJAF has presented the $5,000 Cindy Edelstein Scholarship to Beth Zwiacher, a student at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The award, created in memory of longtime WJA board member Cindy Edelstein, goes to emerging fine-jewelry designers or artisans.

The $5,000 Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship was awarded to Joanna Parrish, a student at North Bennet Street vocational school. The grant, established by New York-based fine jewelry brand Gabriel & Co., goes to students who plan to use their careers in jewelry to improve communities and participate in charitable efforts.

The remaining 2021 scholarship and grant winners are:

Christiane Gozashti, GIA
Xinchen Li, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Barbara Salinas, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
Jennifer Foote, Academy of Art Institute
Allison Ice, University of Kansas
Sky Gilbert, Winthrop University
Naomi Chicoine, San Diego State University
Amber Kimlick, University of North Carolina
Spriha Baid, GIA
Sarah Fam, GIA

Image: A jewelry display. (Shutterstock)