Events & AwardsNov 22, 2022
Hodinkee to Receive Gem Award for Watch ExcellenceEvents & AwardsDec 05, 2022
WJA Foundation Awards Nearly $60K in Scholarships for 2022-2023
Scholarship winners received awards in six different categories.
New York—The WJA Foundation has announced its scholarship recipients for the 2022-2023 program year.
Funds are raised through individual donations and various events and initiatives held throughout the year, including Giving Tuesday, a global movement that encourages people to give back in any way they can.
This year, the WJA Foundation has awarded $57,500 in scholarship funds.
Winners received awards in six different categories.
The Cindy Edelstein Scholarship was created to honor the late longtime WJA board member Cindy Edelstein and awards a $5,000 scholarship to emerging fine jewelry designers or artisans.
The recipient can pursue jewelry design, metalsmithing, or business courses, as long as they’re focused on improving their artistry and/or their designer jewelry business.
This year’s scholarship has been awarded to Gabrielle Saunders, a student at the Gemological Institute of America.
The Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship was established and funded by the Gabriel Love Foundation of New York-based fine jewelry brand Gabriel & Co.
The scholarship provides funding for students who want to achieve professional growth within the jewelry industry and who plan to use their careers to improve communities and participate in charitable efforts.
This year’s $5,000 scholarship has been awarded to GIA student Oksana Membreno.
Related stories will be right here …
Funds are raised through individual donations and various events and initiatives held throughout the year, including Giving Tuesday, a global movement that encourages people to give back in any way they can.
This year, the WJA Foundation has awarded $57,500 in scholarship funds.
Winners received awards in six different categories.
The Cindy Edelstein Scholarship was created to honor the late longtime WJA board member Cindy Edelstein and awards a $5,000 scholarship to emerging fine jewelry designers or artisans.
The recipient can pursue jewelry design, metalsmithing, or business courses, as long as they’re focused on improving their artistry and/or their designer jewelry business.
This year’s scholarship has been awarded to Gabrielle Saunders, a student at the Gemological Institute of America.
The Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship was established and funded by the Gabriel Love Foundation of New York-based fine jewelry brand Gabriel & Co.
The scholarship provides funding for students who want to achieve professional growth within the jewelry industry and who plan to use their careers to improve communities and participate in charitable efforts.
This year’s $5,000 scholarship has been awarded to GIA student Oksana Membreno.
This year’s Designer Category winner is Emma McSallis (Maine College of Art and Design), and the Designer/Creator Category winner is Kindred Lubeck (GIA).
The foundation also launched two new awards this year—the Radiant Minds Technology Scholarship and WJA Diversity Scholarships for GIA Education.
The Radiant Minds Technology Scholarship was created by WJA Foundation, Jewelers Mutual Group, and Black in Jewelry Coalition with the goal of providing women of color the education they need to be successful in tech-related jobs within the jewelry and watch industry.
The recipient receives funding for a training or certification program focused on software engineering, including user-experience design, data analytics, and front and back-end design and web development, at a school of their choice, approved by the scholarship committee.
The inaugural scholarship has been awarded to Brittany Ylanlan, a student studying computer programming and mobile applications development at Tidewater Community College.
The Gemological Institute of America also made a pledge to fund new scholarships for students from underrepresented communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+, who want to take on-campus or online courses through GIA Education.
Recipients can select from various offerings, including GIA’s online Applied Jewelry Professional diploma program, the Diamond Essentials or Diamonds and Diamond Grading courses, or its on-campus Graduate Colored Stones diploma program and Jewelry Design certificate course.
This year, these scholarships were awarded to Cloyette Harris, Koolebogile Veronicah Mosweu, Grace Omwanza, Christina Soto, Ashley Tien, and Rebecca Wagner.
The WJA Foundation also provides various scholarships to students enrolled in jewelry or metalsmithing programs at accredited colleges, universities, or training schools between Aug. 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023.
Donations to the WJA Foundation can be made online.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
SourcingJun 01, 2026
RapNet Rebranding as Rapaport TradeThe revamped online diamond marketplace will feature pricing intelligence and data-driven tools for more efficient buying and selling.
SourcingJun 01, 2026
Gemfields’ Higher-Quality Emerald Auction Achieves $26.8MThe miner said demand for higher-quality emeralds is stable, but there is notable caution in the market.
CollectionsMay 29, 2026
Cultus Artem’s Necklace Is the Oasis in Las Vegas’ DesertThe “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
IndependentsMay 29, 2026
Meet the 2026 Retailer Hall of Fame InducteesThis year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.
Weekly QuizMay 28, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsMay 28, 2026
JCK Rocks To Ride With NellyThree-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.
MajorsMay 28, 2026
Signet Jewelers to Buy The Clear Cut Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
CollectionsMay 28, 2026
Meet The 17 Newcomers to Couture’s Design AtelierThese up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.
GradingMay 28, 2026
GCAL By Sarine Launches 8X Cushion CutThe lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.
Events & AwardsMay 27, 2026
5 Security Tips for Las Vegas Jewelry Market Week 2026This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.
ColumnistsMay 27, 2026
What Jewelers Can Learn From Luxury Fashion’s Digital PlaybookHigh-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Events & AwardsMay 27, 2026
Couture’s ‘The Iridescence’ Will Showcase 7 Emerging Jewelry DesignersThe designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.
ColumnistsMay 26, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
12 JCK Talks Sessions to Add to Your Las Vegas ScheduleThe trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
CBG Brings Its Curated Designer Project to Las Vegas ShowThe Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.
TrendsMay 26, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Cooldown Is ComingBring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
