You Can Now Apply for 2020 GIA Scholarships

Carlsbad, Calif.—Applications are now being accepted for 2020 Gemological Institute of America scholarships.

From Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, $2 million in scholarship funds are up for grabs for current or prospective GIA students.

Scholarships can be used toward any GIA classes, from gemology to jewelry manufacturing and design, distance courses or in-person lab classes.

Supplied by the GIA Endowment Fund and private donors, applications are available online. Scholarships can be applied toward study at any GIA campus or used for online courses.

Duncan Pay, GIA vice president and chief academic officer, commented in a news release: “Scholarships are an important part of our mission to ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry, and our goal of educating the next generation of industry professionals. Through our professional credentials, career services and alumni network, GIA graduates are positioned for success.”

Additionally, in conjunction with the American Gem Society, GIA has created a scholarship in honor of Beatrice Shipley.

Shipley was married to Robert Shipley, founder of GIA and AGS, and in addition to working as a church administrator, school dean and art gallery owner, “provided the emotional, financial and managerial support to fulfill the vision she and Robert Shipley shared for the two organizations,” GIA said.

GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques said: “We are delighted that our two organizations, with our shared missions of protecting consumers and ensuring their trust in gems and jewelry, continue to work closely together to provide education for the next generation of jewelry professionals.

“Neither AGS nor GIA would exist today if it were not for Beatrice Shipley’s contribution to our founding and success.”

The Beatrice Shipley Scholarship will fund the tuition for one AGS member to complete the GIA Graduate Gemologist program on campus as well as the AGS Way Course, funded by a GIA Endowment Fund grant.

Applications for the Shipley scholarship will be accepted through AGS until Aug. 23.

For more information, AGS members may contact the organization at 702-255-6500, ext. 1020, or via email at AGSeducation@ags.org.

More information on Shipley’s contributions and accomplishments are available online.

“Being able to honor Beatrice Shipley, and the representation of the relationship between the AGS and GIA in working together to complement one another, is significant and meaningful for us,” American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories CEO Katherine Bodoh said.