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.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
EditorsSep 19, 2025
These Female Athletes Had the Best Jewelry of the SummerFrom Coco Gauff’s hoops to Madison Keys’ diamond medallion, these are Senior Editor Lenore Fedow’s standout jewelry looks of the season.
CollectionsSep 19, 2025
Piece of the Week: Vanessa Fernández Studio’s ‘Curva’ Wrap HoopsThe trendy earrings feature asymmetrical drops, one with a grossular garnet and the other with a diamond.
Recorded WebinarsSep 19, 2025
Watch: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using TikTok and Instagram ReelsFour social media marketing experts discuss their go-to methods and favorite tools for making high-quality short-form video content.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
Supplier BulletinSep 18, 2025
Will Your Design Define 2026? Enter The Spectrum & Cutting Edge AwardsSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
Weekly QuizSep 19, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysSep 18, 2025
Deloitte Thinks the Holidays Will Be Merry, PwC Isn’t So Sure In its holiday report, PwC said the season will be more like jazz—improvisational and less predictable—than an easy-to-follow melody.
MajorsSep 18, 2025
Pandora to Open New Distribution Center in MarylandThe jewelry giant will relocate its existing facility to a larger space in Anne Arundel.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
CollectionsSep 18, 2025
Ashley Zhang Launches Garçon New YorkThe designer, who is the creative force behind her namesake brand, has now started a new mini line focusing on chains for fathers and sons.
SourcingSep 18, 2025
SSEF Opens Applications for 2 Gemology Education Scholarships The awards include tuition for a course at the Swiss lab, economy flights, and hotel accommodation.
TechnologySep 18, 2025
Hill & Co. Launches AI Strategy ProgramThe 21-day program was designed to help jewelry retailers identify opportunities and eliminate inefficiencies with AI.
AuctionsSep 17, 2025
Mythical Set of Patek Philippe Pocket Watches Expected to Sell for $10M+A set of four Patek Philippe “Star Caliber 2000” pocket watches is part of Sotheby’s upcoming auction in Abu Dhabi.
TrendsSep 17, 2025
Silvia Furmanovich’s Book Tells the ‘Journey of a Jeweler’The Brazilian jeweler’s latest book marks her namesake brand’s 25th anniversary and tells the tale of her worldwide collaborations.
WatchesSep 17, 2025
Bob’s Watches Acquires Vintage Rolex Won on ‘The Price is Right’ The Submariner Ref. 1680 with a Tiffany & Co. dial came from the original owner, who won it as a prize on the game show in the 1970s.
TechnologySep 17, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Launches Shipping Solution App for Shopify The new integration allows users to manage shipments directly from the Shopify dashboard.
EditorsSep 16, 2025
Out & About: 7 Great Quotes From Converge in CarlsbadAt Converge 2025, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff attended sessions on DEI, tariffs, security, and more. Here are her top takeaways.
CrimeSep 16, 2025
2 Robbery Suspects Killed in California Pawn Shop ShootoutSix people were shot last week at an Oakland cash-for-gold shop as employees exchanged gunfire with individuals trying to rob the store.
CollectionsSep 16, 2025
Chopard Adds New Designs to Its ‘Ice Cube’ Capsule CollectionThe jeweler has expanded its high jewelry offering, which launched last year, with new pieces featuring its cube motif that debuted in 1999.
SourcingSep 16, 2025
Natural Diamond Council Launches Retailer Accreditation ProgramBen Bridge Jeweler and Lux Bond & Green were a part of the pilot program.
EditorsSep 15, 2025
Skipping the Necklace, Embracing Snakes: The Best Jewelry From the 2025 Emmy AwardsAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco shares eight of her favorite jewelry looks from the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sunday night.
SurveysSep 15, 2025
Resilient Shoppers to Boost Holiday Retail Sales, Says DeloitteIt’s predicting a rise in retail sales this holiday season despite economic uncertainty and elevated inflation.
SourcingSep 15, 2025
Gemfields Achieves $32M at High-Quality Emerald AuctionIt included the sale of the 11,685-carat “Imboo” emerald that was recently discovered at Kagem.
SourcingSep 15, 2025
AGTA Elects 8 Members to Board of Directors The newly elected directors will officially take office in February 2026 and will be introduced at the organization’s membership meeting.
EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
