Key takeaways
• The MJSA Education Foundation awarded $10,000 in “”Future of Jewelry Making”” scholarships to five students pursuing jewelry careers.
• Scholarship recipients represent schools including the Savannah College of Art and Design, Portland Jewelry Academy, GIA, and New Approach School for Jewelers.
• The MJSA Education Foundation also sponsors the industry’s first U.S. Department of Labor-approved Mentor & Apprenticeship Program.
The MJSA Education Foundation, a nonprofit supporting career and training initiatives in jewelry manufacturing and design, recently awarded a total of $10,000 in “Future of Jewelry Making” scholarships to five students that are planning to pursue professional careers in jewelry making and design.
Lianna Carter of Charlotte, North Carolina, is pursuing training at the New Approach School for Jewelers in Arrington, Tennessee. She expects to complete the school’s Bench Jeweler Comprehensive course this year.
Lauren Edwards of Oak Park, Illinois, is entering her senior year at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, where she’s studying jewelry design with a minor in art history. She expects to graduate in spring 2027 with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in jewelry.
Thomas Koslowski of Southbridge, Massachusetts, is also studying jewelry design and pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He is entering his junior year.
Erin Perry of Portland, Oregon, is attending the Portland Jewelry Academy, where she is studying for a certificate in advanced fabrication and manufacturing techniques. She expects to complete her studies at the school by the end of this year.
Heran Wang of Dix Hills, New York, intends to enroll in the Graduate Jeweler program offered by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). He will begin his studies in the coming year at GIA’s campus in Carlsbad, California.
A 501(c)3 nonprofit, the MJSA Education Foundation supports career and training initiatives throughout the jewelry industry. In addition to the Future of Jewelry Making Scholarships, it sponsors the MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program, the industry’s first nationally registered apprentice program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. To learn more about the Foundation and its initiatives, go to the Career Connections section of MJSA.org
