Jewelers of America (JA) has introduced the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship, a collaborative initiative with Seymour and Evelyn Holtzman designed to support aspiring bench jewelers. This scholarship provides financial aid between $2,000 and $5,000 to students currently enrolled in accredited bench jeweler or metalsmith education programs.
“Evelyn and I are thrilled to partner with Jewelers of America to offer this Bench Scholarship. Our goal is to attract new talent and support the jewelry industry by strengthening the industry’s talent pool in bench jewelry,” says Seymour Holtzman.
Eligibility and Application Process
Candidates eligible for the Holtzman Bench Scholarship must be actively pursuing education in jewelry or metalsmithing at accredited institutions. The selection of recipients will be conducted by a committee, with awards being distributed in June. Applications are open until June 12, 2024.
“Jewelers of America is deeply grateful for the Holtzmans’ shared commitment to helping fellow jewelers through this new scholarship. Bench jewelers are more important than ever to retail businesses, and JA hopes to provide programs and tools to ensure talented individuals continue to enter and excel in the bench jeweler field,” states JA president & CEO David Bonaparte.
Jewelers of America Scholarship Program Expansion
In addition to the new bench scholarship, JA continues its Jewelers of America Scholarship Program. This program is available to employees of JA member companies and covers expenses related to industry-recognized diploma, professional development, and certification programs offered by institutions such as the American Gem Society (AGS), Diamond Council of America (DCA), Jewelers of America Bench Professional Certification, Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA).
Applicants must be over 18, employed by a JA member store, and have at least one year’s experience in the industry. To ensure fair distribution of funds, no more than three scholarships will be awarded per member store throughout the application period from May 1, 2024, to August 31, 2024.
For more detailed information and application forms, interested parties are advised to visit the Jewelers of America website.
