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WJA announces 2015 grant winners
The organization has awarded a total of $12,500 to its members across the country to be used toward professional growth.
New York--The Women’s Jewelry Association has awarded $12,500 in member grants to women across the country.
The funds are raised by the national organization as well as by WJA chapters around the U.S. All applications are reviewed by the WJA Member Grant Committee, chaired by the organizations’ co-vice president of membership development Fran Pennella and including nationwide representatives of the jewelry industry.
Qualified applicants are then placed into a random drawing conducted by the committee. The WJA Member Grants are awarded to female, professional-level WJA members in $500 increments to be used toward professional growth.
The 2015 grant winners are as follows.
--Boston: Kelly Jean Conroy
--Providence: Maria Ruggieri, Tina Snyder
--Chicago: Ashley Chan, Kelly Jacobson, Kathleen Hammond, Nancy Hudson
--New York Metro: Eva-Michelle Spicer, Mallory Herb, Eve Streicker, Retno Hadiatmodjo
--Florida: Victoria Vautherot
--Twin Cities: Julie Burkhart-Haid, Mary Kay Mohs, Lisa Christen
--Northern California: Kelly Nedderman, Olivia Shih
--Los Angeles: Lisa Kim, Harvinder Keila
--San Diego: Judy Colbert, Marreena Appleton
--Dallas: Diane Eames
--Ohio/Kentucky: Megan Powell
--Colorado: Andrea Li
--Seattle: Samantha Laddin
“Professional women in the jewelry industry often need funds to explore their chosen fields more fully,” WJA President Andrea Hansen said. “Our member grants contribute towards that exploration, often taking our members to higher levels of business success.”
WJA will raise funds for next year’s grants and scholarships through its annual Awards for Excellence, which will be held on Monday, July 27, at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
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