Carlsbad, Calif., - Feb, 27, 2008 – The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has announced that the 2008 S.H. Silver Company Scholarship  has been awarded to Shauna McDonough of Prince Frederick, Maryland.

The S.H. Silver Company Scholarship is specifically for students enrolled in the GIA Jewelry Design program. The scholarship started in 2006 and will declare a recipient annually for the next seven years. 

McDonough, is the third recipient of this scholarship. Previous recipients included Jessica O’Conner in 2007 and Tara Schleifer in 2006. 

The S.H. Silver Company Scholarship was created in 2004 by Stephen H. Silver, G.G. and his wife Eileen, owners of S.H. Silver Company Estate and Fine Jewelry, Menlo Park, California. It was the Silvers’ goal that their donation help ensure those students pursuing a career in jewelry design would receive proper education and training.

“The spirit of the donation is to continue to formally educate students interested in learning about jewelry design and history”, said CEO and President, Stephen Silver. “We believe that innovative design is the future of our industry."

Bev Berthoty, manager of GIA Institute Relations expressed the importance of scholarships to help students in need. Berthoty said, “Individuals like the Silvers are instrumental in supporting our students in furthering their gemology education and training.”

This year’s S.H. Silver Company Scholarship recipient, McDonough feels very fortunate to receive support in furthering her jewelry design education. She received her bachelor of arts in fine metals from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.

She currently works at a jewelry store in Southern Maryland and does everything from repair work to design work.

“I initially looked into GIA because of my interest in design and through the recommendation of my employer who is a G.G.,” said McDonough. 

McDonough will be taking the comprehensive nine-week design course at the GIA New York campus in the spring of 2008.

She expressed her reaction upon notification that she was this year’s recipient. “I was shocked and incredibly grateful because I didn’t know how I was going to come up with the funds to take nine weeks off from work while going to school and living in New York,” she said.

For more information on GIA’s scholarships, click here. Applications for 2009 scholarships can be downloaded from GIA's Web site beginning June 15. Qualifications differ for each scholarship; to find out more visit www.gia.edu , call 760-603-4175, or e-mail financialaid@gia.edu.

For more information about making a scholarship donation contact Bev Berthoty at 760-603-4120.