Events & AwardsSep 12, 2024
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JA Announces Three Bench Scholarship Winners
The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship provides tuition help to aspiring bench jewelers.
Jewelers of America has named the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship. From left, the recipients are Teresa Wergedal, Leah Walshak, and Amy Condor.
New York—Jewelers of America has announced the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship.
The scholarship aims to encourage new talent to become bench jewelers. It provides tuition help to students enrolled in an accredited bench jeweler or metalsmith education program.
The three recipients are Amy Conder, who studies at the Gemological Institute of America; Leah Walshak, who attends the New Approach School for Jewelers; and Teresa Wergedal, who takes courses at Stuller.
The scholarship is the result of a partnership that began this past year between JA and the Holtzmans of Chicago jeweler C.D. Peacock.
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The scholarship aims to encourage new talent to become bench jewelers. It provides tuition help to students enrolled in an accredited bench jeweler or metalsmith education program.
The three recipients are Amy Conder, who studies at the Gemological Institute of America; Leah Walshak, who attends the New Approach School for Jewelers; and Teresa Wergedal, who takes courses at Stuller.
The scholarship is the result of a partnership that began this past year between JA and the Holtzmans of Chicago jeweler C.D. Peacock.
"My parents, Seymour and Evelyn Holtzman, have always believed that service and bench jewelers are the foundation of the jewelry industry,” said Steven Holtzman, vice chairman of C.D. Peacock.
“By providing this scholarship, we honor my late father's legacy and hope to help launch many brilliant careers."
JA President and CEO David Bonaparte said, “Bench jewelers are a critical part of our jewelry community, and we are passionate about finding ways to encourage talented individuals to enter and positively impact the field. We know the three recipients will continue to flourish.”
The recipients are all employees at a JA member store and are at least 18 years of age.
They have at least one year of experience working in a JA member store and are not already enrolled in another home study course from any of the educational providers.
For more information, visit the JA website or contact JA’s Member Services at 1-800-223-0673.
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