(Press Release)
The MJSA Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing professional skills in jewelry making and design, recently awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships to four students who show exceptional talent and promise for successful careers.
The four students are:
- Emily Jerome ($5,000 scholarship) of Constableville, NY, who will begin studying jewelry and metalsmithing at the Maine College of Art this year. Jerome says she started making jewelry in fifth grade, creating "my own joy in the times of hardship, taking on a more loving meaning of the old saying about the ‘tortured artist.’" She is eager to explore novel genres and learn "new ways to see the beauty in this world." She plans to graduate in 2020 with a BFA.
- Molly Robinson ($2,000 scholarship) of Fort Worth, TX, is working toward an associate’s degree in jewelry technology, as well as a graduate degree in gemological sciences and CAD/CAM certification at the Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology at Paris Junior College in Paris, TX. Her previous experience includes selling jewelry in various galleries and at trade shows, as well as operating an online jewelry store. After graduation, she intends to work as a bench jeweler and to continue her gemological education. She hopes eventually to become a "professional gem hunter." She plans to complete her programs in December 2017.
- Sidnee Tyree ($2,000 scholarship) of Eau Claire, MI, is enrolled in the Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, MI, where she is entering her junior year in the metals and jewelry design program. She began creating wire jewelry as a hobby a few years ago, then taught herself basic metalsmithing; her love for the craft soon led her to pursue further education. Tyree hopes to apply her own style with wire to other mediums and materials, creating "inimitable adornments that make people feel unique and special," and to open a program one day where underprivileged and troubled youth can learn and practice an art form of their choice. She anticipates graduating with a BFA in metal and jewelry design in spring 2019.
- Jasmine Chan ($1,000 scholarship) of Alhambra, CA, will begin her studies this year in the graduate jeweler program at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, CA. She "dreams of expressing new artistic forms in jewelry and of taking [her] designs globally." Her designs have already received recognition, including division and best of show awards at the 2013 Orange County Fair, and she was a finalist in the 2015 Swarovski Crystal contest sponsored by Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. Ultimately, she would like to work as a bench jeweler for a company while selling her jewelry online. Chan expects to complete her certification in May 2017.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit subsidiary of MJSA (the trade association dedicated to professional jewelry making and design), the MJSA Education Foundation develops and supports programs that help to ensure the jewelry industry maintains a qualified, competitive workforce. It has given over $190,000 in scholarship funding since 1997. Funds for the scholarships are generated through the foundation’s Scholarship Group, which consists of six permanent endowment funds managed by the Rhode Island Community Foundation on behalf of MJSA and the Foundation.
Any student enrolled in a jewelry program, whether through a university or trade school, who intends to pursue a career in the jewelry industry, and who can demonstrate financial need, is eligible to apply for an MJSA Education Foundation scholarship. Applicants are assessed on the basis of course of study, academics, career plans, recommendations, and industry experience. Students must be U.S. citizens.
To learn more about the MJSA Education Foundation and various educational and professional opportunities, visit mjsa.org/