The Jewelry Symposium (TJS), an annual international event dedicated to the advancement of jewelry manufacturing technology, has awarded five scholarships for its 2025 edition.
The scholarships, supported by C&J Jewelry, Dougherty Charitable Fund, Mano Acero Jewelry, Stuller, and TechForm Advanced Casting, have been granted to two emerging designers, two fine jewelry apprentices, and one young jewelry professional.
Addressing Industry Workforce Challenges
Linus Drogs, Chairman of the Board at TJS, highlighted the increasing number of high-quality scholarship applications and emphasized the importance of developing new talent in the industry. “Given the attrition of skilled workers happening in our industry, we could not be happier to welcome these talented artisans. We hope that they will gain new skill sets and make connections that will launch their careers, just as so many of us TJS attendees have over the years,” he stated.
The scholarships cover the symposium registration fee, accommodations for three nights at the Detroit Marriott Troy hotel from May 17–19, meals provided by TJS, a book, a USB drive containing all presentations, and a formal certificate of attendance.
Meet the 2025 TJS Scholarship Recipients
The five recipients represent different facets of the industry, from design to production, each bringing unique perspectives and aspirations to TJS:
- Christopher Liu, an emerging designer and 2019 Saul Bell Design Award winner, is currently a graduate student at Kent State University. “It is an absolute delight to have been awarded the incredible opportunity to attend TJS! I’m looking forward to exploring the immense range of the jewelry industry, face-to-face with industry professionals, craft experts, and educators. I have no doubt that the collective passion and the generosity that is representative of this scholarship and of the community in attendance, will inform the next steps of my career, as the Santa Fe Symposium did for me in 2019.”
- Alexa Edwards, a young jewelry professional working at David Fairclough Fine Jewelers in Toledo, Ohio, sees the symposium as a critical opportunity for growth. “I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to attend TJS 2025. Jewelry has been a passion of mine for years, and I can’t wait to learn from industry experts and connect with others who share that same enthusiasm. This symposium is an invaluable chance to gain new insights, explore different techniques, and take the next step in my journey in the field. I’m excited to be part of such an inspiring community!”
- Alan Worley, an apprentice and caster at Parlé Gems, is eager to expand his understanding of the industry. “I would like to thank the TJS Board for the opportunity to attend this year’s Symposium. The jewelry industry is still very new to me, so I am looking forward to gaining a greater understanding of its scope and scale and to meet more industry professionals and experts. My hope is that I’ll be able to take what I learn and apply it to the daily process of producing high-quality jewelry pieces.”
- Lucas Shoffner, a 19-year-old apprentice at Studio D Jewelers and an emerging goldsmith, looks forward to networking and skill development. “I am more than excited to be given the opportunity to attend this year’s TJS show! I can’t wait to meet more like-minded people and make some networking connections within the industry. With the support of the scholarship, I am sure that I will be able to expand my network and learn lots of new information to further my career in the field.”
- Tivonya Stephenson, an Oregon-based emerging designer focused on ethical sourcing, is eager to explore the technological aspects of jewelry making. “I’m passionate about fine jewelry, it’s my beloved art form. This opportunity to attend The Jewelry Symposium is exciting for me because it gives me the chance to learn well beyond ‘making pretty things’ into the vast unknown of technologies that will continue to carry this art form forward. I’m looking forward to meeting other people that are interested in the science behind the jewelry and learning from the community! This kind of information and community has been completely missing from my life thus far, and I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to learn!”
For more information about TJS or event details, visit thejewelrysymposium.com or contact Jessa Cast at jessa@thejewelrysymposium.com.
