Industry Group Awards Jewelry-Design Scholarship

RAPAPORT... The Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) has awarded the 2020 Cindy Edelstein scholarship to California-based jewelry designer Olivia Shih.The $5,000 grant - named for the jewelry consultant and author, who died in 2016 - is given to emerging fine-jewelry designers or artisans, WJA said last week. It can be used to pursue jewelry-design, metalsmith, or business courses that focus on improving the jewelry business.Shih, who is of Taiwanese descent, will use the funds to further develop her business skills, learn more about responsible sourcing and ethical metalsmithing, and take classes on online marketing and sales."Because WJA emphasizes gender equality, mentorship and education, Olivia Shih is the ideal winner of the Cindy Edelstein Jewelry Design Scholarship," said WJA Foundation president Brandee Dallow. Image: Olivia Shih. (Women's Jewelry Association)