The Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) Education Foundation recently awarded scholarships to nine U.S. students. Recipients were chosen for the quality of the work submitted with their applications, and for their dedication to the study and pursuit of a career in the industry.

The following winners received scholarships in the amount of $1,000:

* Kim Knifechief, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, N.M.
* Natalya Pinchuk, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Ill.
* Anya Pinchuk, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.
* Amie Plante, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Mass.
* Gianna Truba, Center for Creative Studies, Detroit

Awards in the amount of $250-$500 were given to the following students:

* Jesse Bert, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York
* Anne Hallam, San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif.
* Jackeline Martinez, State University of New York, New Paltz, N.Y.
* Kimberly O’Brien, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Mass.

Each year, MJSA’s Education Foundation, in partnership with the Rhode Island Foundation, distributes scholarships to students enrolled in jewelry-related programs at U.S. colleges, universities, or technical schools. Since 1979, MJSA and its affiliated agencies have granted more than $85,000 to students engaged in jewelry design, toolmaking, and jewelry-related disciplines.

In addition to the scholarship program, the Education Foundation also presents the annual Future of the Industry awards to high school students enrolled in art or jewelry-related classes, as well as job training programs for employees of jewelry manufacturers. The Foundation also provides a “Tools for Schools” program that makes jewelry bench tools available to schools at a discount.

For more information about the MJSA Education Foundation, contact Mary Walek, director of education, at 1-800-444-6572, ext. 3041, or e-mail mwalek@mjsainc.com.

JCK