(PRESS RELEASE) The deadline for the 2017 MJSA Education Foundation Scholarships is Friday, June 2nd. If you are a student, or know a student, encourage them to learn more by clicking here to apply today!
Undergraduate and graduate students who intend to pursue a career in the jewelry industry are awarded thousands of dollars from the MJSA Education Foundation each year. MJSA strongly encourages students who are currently enrolled or have been accepted to a jewelry-related program at accredited colleges and universities to apply. Students enrolled at proprietary trade schools and gemological programs are also eligible to apply.
Applicants are assessed on the basis of design excellence, academic record, marketability, recommendations, and financial need. Students must be U.S. citizens, although the jewelry program in which they are enrolled can be located outside the United States. To apply, go to the Rhode Island Foundation login page to register. After students register, the link will take them directly to the MJSA Education Foundation Jewelry Scholarship application.
NEW FOR 2017: In addition to MJSA’s annual scholarships, students enrolled in jewelry design, jewelry making, or other jewelry-related degree programs at colleges, universities, and technical schools in the state of Rhode Island are eligible for a special grant of $2,500, donated by the Providence Jewelers Club Foundation. The deadline in Friday, June 2nd.
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
