Events & AwardsSep 18, 2024
Couture DAC Opens Applications for Next Class of MenteesEvents & AwardsOct 22, 2024
WJA Foundation Names First Winner of Hedda Schupak Scholarship
Journalist Priya Raj plans to use the scholarship funds to further her media qualifications and amplify marginalized communities.
U.K.-based freelance journalist Priya Raj is the winner of the inaugural Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Media and Communications Scholarship from the Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation.
New York—The Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation has announced Priya Raj as the winner of the inaugural Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Media and Communications Scholarship.
The scholarship, funded for $25,000 over a five-year period, was created in honor of the late Hedda Schupak, a journalist who dedicated her career to covering the jewelry industry.
Schupak spent 23 years at JCK magazine, working her way up to become editor-in-chief. She later took over as editor of The Centurion newsletter before “semi-retiring” in March 2022.
The scholarship that bears her name aims to support aspiring journalists, media professionals, content creators, and communicators.
Raj, the first winner of the award, is a journalist and content strategist from the United Kingdom.
She currently is a digital content lead at Chelsea Magazines Company and has contributed to multiple fine jewelry and watch publications, including creating content for the BBC, Refinery29, and InStyle.
She has also attended numerous local and global jewelry events.
Raj told National Jeweler via email that she plans to use the scholarship funds to further her media qualifications and aims to amplify marginalized communities in the jewelry and watch industry.
“I am honored and humbled to have received the first Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Media and Communications Scholarship,” she said in WJA’s LinkedIn announcement of the scholarship winner last month.
“Receiving this scholarship marks not only a milestone in my career, but also the shifting sands of our industry. I look forward to undertaking the responsibility of amplifying the untold stories of the industry.”
Related stories will be right here …
The scholarship, funded for $25,000 over a five-year period, was created in honor of the late Hedda Schupak, a journalist who dedicated her career to covering the jewelry industry.
Schupak spent 23 years at JCK magazine, working her way up to become editor-in-chief. She later took over as editor of The Centurion newsletter before “semi-retiring” in March 2022.
The scholarship that bears her name aims to support aspiring journalists, media professionals, content creators, and communicators.
Raj, the first winner of the award, is a journalist and content strategist from the United Kingdom.
She currently is a digital content lead at Chelsea Magazines Company and has contributed to multiple fine jewelry and watch publications, including creating content for the BBC, Refinery29, and InStyle.
She has also attended numerous local and global jewelry events.
Raj told National Jeweler via email that she plans to use the scholarship funds to further her media qualifications and aims to amplify marginalized communities in the jewelry and watch industry.
“I am honored and humbled to have received the first Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Media and Communications Scholarship,” she said in WJA’s LinkedIn announcement of the scholarship winner last month.
“Receiving this scholarship marks not only a milestone in my career, but also the shifting sands of our industry. I look forward to undertaking the responsibility of amplifying the untold stories of the industry.”
Hedda’s husband Jim Baum said he is “thrilled” that Raj is the first recipient of the Hedda Schupak scholarship.
“Hedda, from her earliest days at JCK, was an advocate for women and how women should play a larger leadership role in the jewelry industry,” Baum said in a release from WJA.
“She understood the influence that responsible journalists could have and did her part to make sure that everyone with a stake in the jewelry business was heard. The [scholarship] helps to ensure that Hedda’s ideals will be passed on to a new generation of jewelry industry influencers.”
A small committee worked together to establish the Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Media and Communications Scholarship earlier this year.
It was funded by: Baum, Mitchell and Leslie Horowitz, Howard and Patti Hauben, Elias World Media, JCK, InStore, Cliq Jewelry, Jewelers of America, National Jeweler, FIT Alumni Association, Jewelers Collective, Russell Shor, Bill Boyajian, and Jewelry by Karla Kristine.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
MajorsNov 21, 2025
Natural Diamond Council Names New CEOAmber Pepper’s main focus will be on digital innovation and engaging younger consumers.
SourcingNov 21, 2025
De Beers’ Branded, Traceable Diamonds Roll Out to 19 Retailers Called “Origin by De Beers Group,” the loose, polished diamonds are being sold in a total of 30 stores in the United States and Canada.
CollectionsNov 21, 2025
Piece of the Week: Melissa Kaye’s ‘Rocky Infinity’ NecklaceThe lariat necklace features a 4.88-carat oval-cut Zambian emerald in 18-karat yellow gold.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
AuctionsNov 20, 2025
Vanderbilt Jewels Shine at Phillips Sale, Pink Diamond WithdrawnA 43-carat sapphire brooch from the Vanderbilt collection was the top lot of the Geneva sale.
Weekly QuizNov 20, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsNov 20, 2025
Rebecca Rau Jewels Debuts With ‘Then & Now’ CollectionRau is a fourth-generation art and antique dealer from M.S. Rau gallery whose first jewelry collection merges artifacts with modern design.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2025
RJC Names New Executive DirectorFormer De Beers sustainability leader Purvi Shah will take over the role in February 2026.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
WatchesNov 20, 2025
LVMH Takes Minority Stake in Citizen Group-Owned Movement Maker La Joux-Perret is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and makes solar quartz as well as mechanical watch movements.
GradingNov 20, 2025
Julia Griffith Joins SSEF as Head of EducationShe previously taught at Gem-A and is the founder of The Gem Academy.
CollectionsNov 19, 2025
Larkspur & Hawk Celebrates 25 Years With Helena Bonham Carter CampaignThe British actress and her daughter modeled pieces from the brand’s new “Palette” capsule for its “Once Upon a Time” holiday campaign.
TechnologyNov 19, 2025
Google Has a New Form for Reporting ‘Review Bombing’ Attacks Plus, the tech giant shares the steps retailers should take if they believe they’re a victim of a review extortion scam.
IndependentsNov 19, 2025
Houston Jeweler Keith Shaftel Retires, Next Generation Steps In Danny and Gaby Shaftel are now Shaftel Diamonds’ CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.
TrendsNov 19, 2025
Midas Chain Releases 2025 Holiday Style GuideThe jewelry manufacturer’s seasonal offering features its new “Melodie” bangles, as well as mini stud earrings and layering pieces.
MajorsNov 18, 2025
Lugano Diamonds Files for Bankruptcy, Looking for BuyerThe Chapter 11 filing follows the resignation of CEO Moti Ferder, who stepped down after an investigation into the company’s finances.
SourcingNov 18, 2025
Another Diamond Company CEO Steps DownMark Wall, president and CEO of Canadian mining company Mountain Province Diamonds, will vacate his position next month.
CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
MajorsNov 17, 2025
Look Inside Robbins Brothers Fine Jewelers’ New Pasadena FlagshipThe showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
