The GIA has begun accepting scholarship applications from aspiring or current gem and jewellery professionals planning to enrol in its on-campus or distance education programmes in 2020. The total amount available is US$ 2 million and are available for both US and international prospective students, GIA said.

The scholarships are made available by the GIA Endowment Fund and private donors and the applications will be accepted Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, 2019.

GIA has awarded more than US$ 10 million in scholarships since 2010, helping more than 2,000 students study at GIA schools in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York, Surat, Taiwan and now Tokyo, as well as through distance education programmes.

Gabrielle White, GIA Graduate Jeweler and scholarship recipient, said, “The scholarship I received from GIA helped me afford an education that I otherwise would not have financially been able to obtain. The process is definitely worth the education that you will receive.”

Duncan Pay, GIA vice president and chief academic officer, said, “Scholarships are an important part of our mission to ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry, and our goal of educating the next generation of industry professionals.”

Details of the application process are available at GIA.edu/scholarships.

In a separate, but related announcement, GIA also said that along with the American Gem Society (AGS) it was establishing a scholarship in honour of Beatrice Shipley, wife of Robert Shipley, who founded both GIA and AGS, and was herself, an excellent businesswoman at a time when there were few women in business.

The two organisations said that neither of them would have existed today “if it were not for Beatrice Shipley’s contribution to our founding and success.”

The scholarship provides the tuition for one AGS member to undertake the GIA Graduate Gemologist program on-campus, funded by a grant from the GIA Endowment Fund, and the AGS Way Course.