Events & AwardsSep 02, 2021
NYC Jewelry Week Residency Program Now Accepting Applications Events & AwardsSep 13, 2021
Here’s the Winner of the Second Annual Beatrice Shipley Scholarship
Created by AGS and GIA, the award will cover full tuition costs for Ohio jewelry store employee Rachel Burazer.
Rachel Burazer, a sales associate and custom designer at AGS member store Argo & Lehne Jewelers in Columbus, Ohio, has been awarded the Beatrice Shipley Scholarship, created in 2019 by AGS and GIA to cover tuition costs for the GIA Graduate Gemologist program.
Las Vegas—The American Gem Society and Gemological Institute of America have announced the winner of their second annual Beatrice Shipley Scholarship.
The two organizations will award the honor to Rachel Burazer, a sales associate and custom designer at AGS member store Argo & Lehne Jewelers in Columbus, Ohio.
Born in Ohio, Burazer moved to Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in fashion design.
After working in the food and beverage industry and at Bloomingdale’s, she realized she should combine her hospitality experience with a “more refined” retail environment, AGS said.
She first worked at Chicago jewelry retailer Steve Quick Jeweler before moving to Argo & Lehne, where she currently acts as a mentor to her colleagues, a liaison to many vendors, and a trusted employee to customers.
The scholarship will cover all her tuition costs for the GIA Graduate Gemologist on-campus or distance program in Carlsbad, California.
It will also cover costs of the AGS Way Course—the final step in obtaining an AGS title, covering the history, mission, vision, and values of being a member—and entry to the 2021 AGS Conclave event, slated for Sept. 12-14 in Dallas.
AGS and GIA created the Beatrice Shipley Scholarship together and announced it at the 2019 Conclave event in honor of trailblazing businesswoman Beatrice Shipley.
Both organizations were founded in the 1930s when Beatrice and her husband, Robert, cashed in their savings to create them, with the goal of educating jewelers, professionalizing the industry, and creating a guild for these jewelers to join.
“AGS would like to thank GIA for its ongoing commitment to AGS and for partnering on this scholarship. Beatrice Shipley, along with her husband, changed the course of the jewelry industry,” said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories.
“We are so pleased to award Rachel with this scholarship. She is passionate about the jewelry industry, bettering herself, and serving her customers. I know this opportunity will propel her career forward.”
Related stories will be right here …
The two organizations will award the honor to Rachel Burazer, a sales associate and custom designer at AGS member store Argo & Lehne Jewelers in Columbus, Ohio.
Born in Ohio, Burazer moved to Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in fashion design.
After working in the food and beverage industry and at Bloomingdale’s, she realized she should combine her hospitality experience with a “more refined” retail environment, AGS said.
She first worked at Chicago jewelry retailer Steve Quick Jeweler before moving to Argo & Lehne, where she currently acts as a mentor to her colleagues, a liaison to many vendors, and a trusted employee to customers.
The scholarship will cover all her tuition costs for the GIA Graduate Gemologist on-campus or distance program in Carlsbad, California.
It will also cover costs of the AGS Way Course—the final step in obtaining an AGS title, covering the history, mission, vision, and values of being a member—and entry to the 2021 AGS Conclave event, slated for Sept. 12-14 in Dallas.
AGS and GIA created the Beatrice Shipley Scholarship together and announced it at the 2019 Conclave event in honor of trailblazing businesswoman Beatrice Shipley.
Both organizations were founded in the 1930s when Beatrice and her husband, Robert, cashed in their savings to create them, with the goal of educating jewelers, professionalizing the industry, and creating a guild for these jewelers to join.
“AGS would like to thank GIA for its ongoing commitment to AGS and for partnering on this scholarship. Beatrice Shipley, along with her husband, changed the course of the jewelry industry,” said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories.
“We are so pleased to award Rachel with this scholarship. She is passionate about the jewelry industry, bettering herself, and serving her customers. I know this opportunity will propel her career forward.”
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
EditorsAug 15, 2025
Piece of the Week: Etho Maria’s Showgirl-Approved Ruby Drop Earrings Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
Weekly QuizAug 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LAThe full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsThe board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Colorado Jeweler, Whiskey Maker Collab on Ring GiveawayThree winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.
SurveysAug 13, 2025
These Are The 25 Hottest Retailers, Says NRFJD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
Columbia Gem House Launches Winza Sapphires, RubiesThe new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.
SourcingAug 12, 2025
Gemfields Sells Fabergé for $50MAcquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.
Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
Higher Tariff on Chinese Imports Paused for 90 Days, Trump SaysPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.
CollectionsAug 12, 2025
Jacquie Aiche’s New Collection Harnesses the Energy of the ThunderbirdThe “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.
ColumnistsAug 12, 2025
Creative Connecting: How to Take a Better HeadshotColumnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.
CrimeAug 11, 2025
Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado JewelerPeter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.
IndependentsAug 11, 2025
Lisa Bridge to Depart Ben Bridge JewelerThe retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.
EditorsAug 11, 2025
The Colors Expected to Be On-Trend in a Couple YearsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
Policies & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.
