Now through May 15, the Gemological Institute of America is accepting applications for five scholarships totaling more than $33,000 to the GIA School of Business. Three full and two partial scholarships are available. Anyone with a high school diploma can apply. For the first time in the Institute’s history, both U.S. and international students are eligible for all scholarships. Those selected must be able to start classes by April 2006.

The three full scholarships will cover the entire tuition for the Jewelry Business Management (JBM) diploma program and can be used for either On Campus or Distance Education. Named in honor of GIA’s former chairman, two of these full scholarships were created by a special allocution from the annual Richard T. Liddicoat Scholarship program, including support from matching gift donor St. Vincent Jewelry Center of Los Angeles. GIA founded the third full scholarship in honor of Jeffrey W. Comment, former chairman and CEO of Helzberg Diamonds who died October 2004.

The two partial School of Business scholarships, each worth $5,000, were established by Jhaveri Diamond Corporation for students attending GIA’s Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad.

Founded in July 2002, the GIA School of Business is the first business school created exclusively for the jewelry industry. The school offers on campus and online programs.

Textbooks are not included in any of the scholarships. Applications can be downloaded from the GIA Web site, at www.gia.edu; click on “Education” and then “School of Business.” Contact Bruce Honer, GIA scholarship coordinator, at 760-603-4175, or e-mail bhoner@gia.edu for more information about the scholarship.

JCK