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
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.
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.
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.
Weekly QuizAug 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
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.
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.
MajorsAug 06, 2025
Claire’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy AgainThe jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.
IndependentsAug 06, 2025
Smith & Son Jewelers to Close 107-Year-Old Location Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.
CollectionsAug 06, 2025
Zahn-Z Swims With Whales in ‘Beluga’ CollectionDesigner Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.
TrendsAug 06, 2025
Paola De Luca to Release Trendbook 2027+She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.
CrimeAug 05, 2025
Report: Suspect Arrested in 1992 Murder of Miami JewelerOmar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.
CollectionsAug 05, 2025
Mignon Faget Commemorates 20th Anniversary of Hurricane KatrinaThe New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.
ColumnistsAug 05, 2025
The PR Adviser: Affiliate Marketing Is the Cost of CoverageLilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.
Events & AwardsAug 04, 2025
Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging DesignersThe winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.
TrendsAug 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: August’s Bright BaublesAs summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.
CrimeAug 04, 2025
‘The Watch King’ Assaulted, Robbed in QueensMoshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.
MajorsAug 04, 2025
Borsheims Welcomes New Assistant Facilities ManagerXavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet JewelersThe addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ NecklaceThe necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award WinnersJewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.
