Here Are the WJA Foundation’s 2021 Scholarship Winners

New York—The Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation has announced this year’s scholarship recipients.

Receiving a total of $35,000, all are students in accredited programs focused on jewelry-making and design, the foundation said.

There are five scholarship categories, each awarding recipients between $1,000 and $5,000. 

They are: the Cindy Edelstein Jewelry Design Scholarship; the Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship; Designer Category (based on designs by the student, including CAD and drawings); Designer/Creator Category (based on images of finished pieces that are designed and created by the student); and Non-Designer Category (essay-based for those studying to be a gemologist, appraiser, watch-maker, bench jeweler, or retailer).

The Cindy Edelstein Scholarship, created to honor the legacy of long-time WJA board member and designer advocate Cindy Edelstein, is awarded to Beth Zwiacher, a student at the Gemological Institute of America.

The scholarship awards $5,000 to emerging fine jewelry designers or artisans.

The Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship, also a $5,000 award, was established and funded by Gabriel & Co.'s Gabriel Love Foundation.

It’s intended to help students who want to achieve professional growth in the industry and looks for applicants who plan to use their careers in jewelry to improve communities and participate in charitable efforts.

This year’s scholarship has been awarded to Joanna Parrish, a student at Bennet Street School. 

Additional 2021 winners are:
--Christiane Gozashti, Gemological Institute of America;
--Xinchen Li, UW Wisconsin;
--Barbara Salinas, FIT;
--Jennifer Foote, Academy of Art Institute;
--Allison Ice, University of Kansas;
--Sky Gilbert, Winthrop University;
--Naomi Chicoine, San Diego State;
--Amber Kimlick, University of North Carolina;
--Spriha Baid, Gemological Institute of America; and
--Sarah Fam, Gemological Institute of America.

WJA raises funds for the foundation’s scholarships at its annual Awards for Excellence gala.

This year, the event will be centered on WJA’s 2021 organizational theme, “Building Resilience for Responsible Business.”

It will aim to raise funds to continue the organization’s programming and charitable giving, including its diversity, equity, and inclusion events, as well as the new Responsible Sourcing & Sustainability Education Fund to support the development of more responsible business leaders within the industry.

The 2021 Awards for Excellence will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

An online auction will accompany the event, with proceeds also supporting WJA Foundation’s grants and scholarship programs.

To learn more, visit WomensJewelryAssociation.com.

Those interested in making donations to the foundation can do so online at any time. 

Future WJA membership grant opportunities will open Sept. 1 and close Oct. 31.