GIA Los Angeles’ new location offers an appealing alternative for West Coast-bound
Gemology students

By Larne Boyles

Los Angeles. Home to Hollywood, Venice Beach and of course Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The palm tree-lined city – where everything from museums to espresso carts is seasoned with a little glitz and glam – is a hot spot for international tourists. And with the second largest jewelry district in the United States, it’s also where a growing number of students come to study GIA’s educational programs.

So many more students, in fact, that the GIA Los Angeles branch recently relocated from a one-classroom space in the downtown area to a larger facility in Culver City (near the L.A. airport) to accommodate them.

The new space has three large classrooms that have been outfitted with state-of-the-art gemological equipment, which makes it possible to offer more GIA On Campus programs and Extension classes (see the 2005 GIA Extension Class Schedule page 35). It has an indoor lounge area with a kitchenette, internet-ready computer terminals and what many students consider the best improvement – an outdoor break area.

Students can relax in a large, quiet outdoor seating area in a lush, tropical setting, complete with cascading waterfalls. It is so appealing, in fact, that Instructor Eric Tollefson admits it’s sometimes difficult to get them back inside after a break.
“The students have asked me several times if we could hold class outside,” he said. “Though it won’t work, it shows how comfortable they are in this relaxed environment, which is quite a change from our former location.”

The former downtown location had some perks, too, like being in the heart of the jewelry district, which provided students with an up-close look at the industry on a daily basis. But some students weren’t used to the urban setting.

The New Perks
The new location – situated among satellite facilities for prominent educational institutions, including Pepperdine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and Loyola Marymount – has a college-like atmosphere, said jewelry designer and manufacturer Kate Sarycheva, who is studying to become a G.G.

“It feels like I’m attending college here [at the Culver City location] where at the old place, it felt like I was just coming to work,” she said.

Students aren’t the only ones who have noticed the change. Instructor Lisa Schoening applauds it, saying she feels the atmosphere in the more college-like environment really makes a difference in the overall learning experience.

“In a much easier atmosphere – with the extra space, the indoor lounge and computer terminals, etc. – the students feel safer and more comfortable. This is much more conducive to learning,” she said.
 
L.A. Life
Los Angeles is a multicultural Mecca with more than 100 different languages spoken in the Los Angeles Unified School District and about 50 percent of the population with roots outside the U.S. Many sections of the city, such as Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown and Plaza Olvera, retain their cultural traditions to provide vibrant “mini nations” filled with culture, color and commerce.

“There’s such cultural diversity here that students can come from all over the world and find a place to be comfortable,” Tollefson said. “The people of Los Angeles are very accepting and the fact that students can come here and fit in is a great opportunity.”

L.A.’s multicultural aspects make living in the city a great experience, Schoening said.
“Los Angeles is a world-class city. Being a part of L.A. life is an extraordinary experience,” she said. “The film festivals, the music, the museums and bookstores – it is such a vibrant place to be.”

GIA Los Angeles is just a few miles away from the one of the busiest commercial airports in the world, making it a relatively easy destination for international travelers. The Education Services representatives at the branch can also help refer students who seek housing in the surrounding communities.

Veronica Clark-Hudson, director of GIA Los Angeles since 1997, is especially proud of the new location. She remembers the early days when there weren’t many students in the original 1,200-square foot facility, but as time went on and elbows began to knock against each other, she knew it was time to expand.

“I am pleased that students and staff alike have adapted to the new environment and find
it a comfortable and enjoyable learning experience,” Clark-Hudson said. “The growth and expansion will only positively serve the students, the jewelry community and GIA as a whole.”