The Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships, awarding a total of $38,370 to support education and professional development for women across the jewelry and watch sectors.
The scholarships, named in memory of industry figures and donors, cover various areas of the trade, including bench jewelry, design, gemology, retail and communications.
Support for Technical and Creative Skills
Alejandra Garcia, founder of Oh Voilà Jewelry and a Colombian-born jewelry artist, was awarded the 2025 Stuller Bench Jeweler Scholarship. The scholarship supports women pursuing technical training at the bench. Garcia specializes in filigree and plans to teach the technique as part of her future work.
Ani Khachian, a second-generation Armenian-American jewelry designer and founder of Ani Fine Jewelry, received the Cindy Edelstein Jewelry Design Scholarship. The award supports training in design, metalsmithing or business and was created in memory of Edelstein, a former WJA board member.
Awards in Communications, Retail and Gemology
The Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Media and Communications Scholarship was awarded to Nadja de Sá Van Diest, a bench jeweler and creator of Pass The Torch: Legacies in Jewelry. She plans to pursue graduate studies in journalism with support from the scholarship established in memory of industry journalist Hedda Schupak.
Shannon Sallis received the Helene Fortunoff Women in Retail Scholarship. Sallis has over two decades of experience at Signet Jewelers and has focused on leadership development in retail. The scholarship, established by the Fortunoff family, supports education and management training for women in retail.
The Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship, a $5,000 award, was given to Elizabeth Alli, a student in the Graduate Gemology program through the Gemological Institute of America’s online platform. The scholarship supports students pursuing careers in jewelry with a focus on community engagement.
Student Scholarship and Membership Support
Elle Jerge, a BFA student in Jewelry Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), received the WJA Student Scholarship, which supports students in accredited jewelry or metalsmithing programs. She has completed industry internships and collaborative projects during her studies, including work with commercial and high jewelry brands.
The WJA Foundation Membership Angel Fund provides support for membership dues, helping individuals access WJA member benefits. The 2025 recipients are: Hoda Rahbarnik, Paulina Aguilera, Marilyn Grando, Virginiah Nyambura, Atieh Tootoonchi, Temidayo Ogunleye, Dariia Diachok, Geeta Van Goethem, Tiffany Bennett and Sandra Tourne.
Industry Context
The WJA Foundation scholarships provide financial support for women pursuing education and training in various areas of the jewelry industry. By supporting individuals in creative and technical roles, the initiative aims to help build a more skilled and diverse workforce.
More information about the recipients and scholarship programs is available at https://www.womensjewelryassociation.com/2025-scholarship-recipients.
