Scholarships & Member Grants



To empower both its female members and students in the jewelry, watch and related industries, the Women's Jewelry Association offers two types of educational financial aid, student scholarship and member grants.

Student scholarships, in varying amounts starting at $500 and as high as $7000, are available to female students (including WJA members) who are enrolled in fine jewelry and watch design courses in the United States with classes between August 1, 2010 and July 31, 2011.  In 2010, WJA awarded $20,000 in scholarships to eleven students.

Click here to see the Scholarship Award Winners.

The Application for 2010 is now available!

This year we are awarding scholarships in two different categories: the Designer Category (based on images of finished pieces that are designed and created by the student), and a Non-Designer Category (essay based for those studying to be a gemologist, appraiser, watch-maker, bench jeweler, or retailer.

Our application is completely on-line through www.callforentry.org. Follow the link and fill out your application today.  Applications are due April 15th, 2010.  Any questions, you can e-mail Lisa Slovis Mandel, WJA Scholarship Chairperson at lisa@lisaslovis.com. 

Member Grants are awarded to WJA female members in increments of $500 towards professional growth.  Recipients must be full members in good standing.  Student members are not eligible for Member Grants, and are encouraged to apply for Student Scholarships The application for 2010 is due on February 28th.  Click here for this year’s application.  If you have any questions, e-mail Jayne Schultz, WJA National Scholarship Chairperson at jayneschultz.w@gmail.com

Funds for the grants are raised by the WJA in several ways, according to Jayne Schultz, chair
of the WJA Member Grant Committee. Funding comes from WJA’s national organization,
WJA chapters, and from companies and individuals who generously support WJA’s mission.

Click here for the 2010 Member Grant Application.

Click here to see the 2010 recipients.

Scholarship Fund Board of Trustees:
President – Barbara Mooty, Mooty, Inc.
Vice-President (Development Chair) – Lita N. Asscher, Royal Asscher of America, Inc.
Secretary – Brenda Gamba, The Jewelers Board of Trade
Treasurer – Michael Kaplan, Rocket Red Box
Immediate Past President – Susan D. Seider, Marketing Options
Scholarship Chair – Lisa Slovis Mandel, Lisa Slovis Metalsmithing
Silent Auction Chair – Nessi Erkmenoglu, Harpers Bazaar
Member Grant Chair – Jayne Schultz, JayStone
Kendra Bridel-Weinman, President, WJA
Yancy Weinrich, Immediate Past President, WJA
Helene Fortunoff

The scholarship committee consists of:
Lisa Slovis Mandel – National Scholarship Chairperson, Jayne Schultz, Belinda Duva,
Brenda Gamba, Karen Golembeski, Karen Janowski, Kendra Bridel Weinman,
Helene Fortunoff, Carole Diamond, Judi Schecter, Veronica Chudson, Kimarie
Brunette, Betty Sue King, and Heather Seevers