The Diamond Council of America (DCA), a US accredited school that offers jewelers the opportunity to earn professional certifications in diamonds, colored gemstones and fine jewelry sales through distance education, announced that it has received a $25,000 grant from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to provide scholarships to DCA graduates to enroll in GIA online distance education courses.
The grant will allow DCA students to continue their education in advanced coursework offered by GIA. Scholarships are open to DCA members and their employees who are at least 18-years old, currently employed at a DCA member store, a graduate of at least one DCA course and not already enrolled in another distance education course from GIA.
"We are incredibly appreciative of this grant and the opportunity to work more closely with GIA to have DCA students continue their education and improve their professional profile by taking GIA courses," says DCA President/CEO Terry Chandler.
DCA will administer the scholarships funded by the GIA grant. Applications will be accepted through December 31, 2019 and will be given on a first-come first-served basis. Scholarships may be applied toward any of the following GIA eLearning courses, based on availability: Jewelry Essentials, Colored Stone Essentials, Diamond Essentials, Pearls, Colored Stones, Diamonds and Diamond Grading and Gem Identification.
Scholarship applications should be submitted to DCA's New York office either via email to cmiller@jewelers.org or via hard copy to Carey Miller at Jewelers of America, 120 Broadway, Suite 2820, New York, New York 10271.