Five new scholarships available for U.S. and International applicants

By Tara J. McKenna

Those looking to enhance their careers with a Jewelry Business Management diploma from GIA have five new ways to do so. For the first time, the Institute has established scholarships to the program with donations from industry members.

Three of the five scholarships for 2005 will cover the entire cost of tuition for the Jewelry Business Management diploma program and can be used for On Campus or Distance Education.

GIA established the Jeffrey W. Comment Scholarship in honor of the late chairman and CEO of Helzberg Diamonds, while two others were created through a special allocation from the annual Richard T. Liddicoat Scholarship program, including support from matching gift donor St. Vincent Jewelry Center of Los Angeles.

Two additional $5,000 scholarships were established by Jhaveri Diamond Corporation for students attending GIA’s Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad, California.

“The GIA education programs have played a key role in providing our industry with highly qualified technical people for many years,” said Nikhil Jhaveri, owner of Jhaveri Diamond Corporation. “I believe that the addition of a business curriculum at GIA will now attract and train our industry’s future business leaders. I am happy for the opportunity to support this effort.”

Students awarded the scholarships will be able to start their courses in the summer or fall quarters of 2005 or in the winter or spring quarters of 2006.

“We want deserving students to have access to these scholarships as soon as possible,” said Dr. Mink Stavenga, dean of GIA’s School of Business. “But we don’t want to disqualify them if they can’t begin their studies until 2006.”

The Jewelry Business Management diploma program is earned upon successful completion of eight courses – four required core classes and four electives.

The GIA School of Business, founded in July 2002, uses college-level textbooks and
an interactive classroom environment to teach real-world business fundamentals as they apply to the jewelry industry, Stavenga said.
 
“After receiving my Bachelor of Commerce [degree] from the University of Mumbai,
I wanted to pursue further studies that would position me for success, both in my family
business and the jewelry industry. That’s why I chose GIA’s School of Business,” said graduate Shairul Parikh.

“The Jewelry Business Management diploma program is highly specialized and focuses exclusively on the jewelry industry. By the end of the program I learned valuable business strategies and tactics I could immediately apply to my family’s business or anything else I do.”

GIA has created a supplemental scholarship application process for the five School of
Business scholarships so the recipients can begin their education quickly. The normal
scholarship application process runs from June 15 through Oct. 15 and scholarships are awarded in January (see this year’s winners below). The supplemental School of Business application process began Feb. 15 and ends May 15.

Applications should be submitted to:
Gemological Institute of America
Office of Student Financial Assistance
5345 Armada Drive, MS 7
Carlsbad, CA 92008

For other GIA scholarship information, contact Bruce Honer at (760) 603-4175. To learn how you can create a scholarship, contact Director of Institute Relations
Jane Lynch at (760) 603-4114.