Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodEvents & AwardsJul 28, 2026
The Edge Funding 2 Scholarships Via 24 Karat Club SEUS
The scholarships will go to early-career professionals looking to study gemology, bench work and jewelry design, or store operations.
Shelton, Conn.—The Edge announced last week that it is funding two scholarships to aid early-career professionals looking to get into gemology, store operations, or bench work, a sector of the jewelry industry that desperately needs more workers.
Set at $1,500 each, the scholarships were offered through the 24 Karat Club SEUS (Southeastern United States) and will be presented next month in Atlanta.
In a press release about the scholarships, The Edge noted that many independent jewelry store owners are within a decade of handing the store off to the next generation, and the next generation needs education some of them cannot afford.
“One of the most important questions facing independent jewelers today is, who will carry these businesses forward when the current generation is ready to step back?” said Josh Brenner, who became CEO of The Edge following Dick Abbott’s retirement earlier this year.
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Set at $1,500 each, the scholarships were offered through the 24 Karat Club SEUS (Southeastern United States) and will be presented next month in Atlanta.
In a press release about the scholarships, The Edge noted that many independent jewelry store owners are within a decade of handing the store off to the next generation, and the next generation needs education some of them cannot afford.
“One of the most important questions facing independent jewelers today is, who will carry these businesses forward when the current generation is ready to step back?” said Josh Brenner, who became CEO of The Edge following Dick Abbott’s retirement earlier this year.
“For a young person entering the industry, the cost of a gemology certification, bench program, or other professional training can be a real barrier. These scholarships are a practical way for us to invest in the next generation of talent and help ensure independent jewelry businesses continue to thrive.”
To be eligible for scholarship consideration, individuals had to be nominated by a 24 Karat Club SEUS member. The nominee then had to complete and submit an application along with a letter of recommendation from the sponsoring member.
Leaders from the 24 Karat Club SEUS and The Edge will be present when the two winners are announced at the club’s 50th annual banquet, which is set for Aug. 22 in conjunction with the fall Atlanta Jewelry Show.
AJS Fall 2026 is scheduled to take place Aug. 22 and 23 at the Cobb Convention Center.
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