AuctionsDec 12, 2025
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GradingJan 15, 2014
GIA starts memorial scholarship for Tawfic Farah
The Gemological Institute of America has introduced the Tawfic Farah Memorial Scholarship in honor of the institute’s former vice president of international operations who died last year.
The GIA has established the Tawfic Farah Memorial Scholarship, honoring the institute’s former vice president of international operations.
Carlsbad, Calif.--The Gemological Institute of America has introduced the Tawfic Farah Memorial Scholarship in honor of the institute’s former vice president of international operations who died last year.
The annual scholarship will award full tuition to an on-campus student at GIA to pursue their Graduate Gemologist diploma, including the required Diamond Grading, Colored Stone Grading and Gem Identification lab classes.
The first scholarship will go to a student at GIA’s Mumbai campus, and will rotate throughout the global campuses in the following years. The institute has campuses in Carlsbad, Hong Kong, London, New York, Moscow, Bangkok, Mumbai, Taipei, Taiwan, Seoul, South Korea, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.
It will be offered beginning June 15 on the GIA website. Every year the application process will run through Oct. 31.
Farah died in May after 10 years with the GIA.
As the vice president of international operations, he made a lasting contribution to the institute’s mission by building relationships in the Middle East and Africa, expanding education and beneficiation efforts in Africa, and supporting the global expansion of the GIA’s services.
“Tawfic helped countless people, both students and members of the trade, by working to bring GIA’s education programs to communities involved in the gem and jewelry industry throughout the world. He helped build GIA’s relationships with governments and to create opportunities and choices where few had previously existed,” said GIA president and CEO Susan Jacques.
“In keeping with the vision Tawfic gifted to GIA, we honor him in a way that reflects his personal passion and continues the great contributions he made to the communities that are part of our industry. His always positive and effervescent presence will be greatly missed.”
In 2013, GIA awarded nearly $600,000 in scholarships to 190 students across the world.
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