Record $235,269 in GIA Scholarships Granted
By
Tiffany Moore , Thursday, April 19, 2007
From
GIA, Carlsbad, Calif. – The Gemological Institute of America has awarded 43 scholarships for 2007 valued at $235,269 – the most ever allocated by the Institute.
This record-breaking amount includes three new scholarships, the Michael Beaudry Scholarship, the George W. Juno Scholarship, and the DeYoung Family Scholarship Awards.
The Michael Beauty Scholarship is GIA’s largest single scholarship established to date.New York–native Cynthia Santiago received this $29,560 scholarship, which will fully fund her GIA On Campus Applied Jewelry Arts and Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) programs.
“As president of Michael Beaudry Inc., Michael wanted to inspire those just entering the trade to reach for the success he found through his own GIA education,” said Brook Ellis, GIA vice president of Education. “Through the Beaudry scholarship, others will be able tolaunch their jewelry careers through a GIA education. Cynthia perfectly embodies the spirit of inspiration for which this scholarship was created.”
Santiago, a 16-year-veteran of the social services industry, looks forward to helping people through her new career in the jewelry trade. "I look forward to helping people pick out jewelry to celebrate special occasions in their lives andserving as an asset to the community,”she said.
The George W. Juno Scholarship was created in memory of an enthusiastic 20-year-old jeweler who died in a car accident in March 2006. The DeYoung Family Scholarship fund, established in 2005, provides two resident G.G. scholarships and was named in honor of the J. & S.S. DeYoung family company.
“Scholarships enrich the lives of their recipients far into the future, as well as those of their families and communities,” said Institute Relations Manager Bev Berthoty.
“It’s the generosity and farsightedness of people such as Michael Beaudry that allowed us to offer more scholarships to more students than in any previous year,” said Berthoty. “The world’s best gemological and jewelry education is now available to 43 deserving and creative students who may not have had the opportunity or means to attend GIA otherwise.”
For more information about GIA scholarships, click here. Applications for 2008 scholarships can be downloaded from GIA's Web site beginning June 15.Qualifications differ for each scholarship. To find out more, visit GIA’s Web site, call 760-603-4175, or e-mail financialaid@gia.edu.
For more information about making a donation in the name of a scholarship, contact Bev Berthotyat 760-603-4170.