The Jewelry Symposium, with three industry sponsors, has created a scholarship program for students and early-career jewelry professionals to attend its 2024 event, which will be held May 18–21 in Troy, Mich., a suburb of Detroit.
The scholarships cover the registration fee for the Jewelry Symposium (TJS), three nights’ hotel accommodations plus meals, a thumb drive of all presentations, and a formal certificate of attendance. At least three scholarships will be awarded this year, says Linus Drogs, TJS board chair.
Those who wish to be considered for a scholarship must submit a completed application (which includes a question about how attending TJS would help their jewelry career or education) along with a résumé and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, employer, or mentor. Application deadline has been extended to March 29, and winners will be notified by April 5, Drogs says.
Scholarship sponsors are C&J Jewelry, Mano Acero Jewelry, and TechForm Advanced Casting. “Thanks to our generous sponsors, we are able to launch the new TJS scholarships, available to anyone who is new to the jewelry industry, whether an apprentice or a student,” says Drogs.
“All fields of study are encouraged to apply, from bench and tech to material and metallurgical engineering. The scholarship award will cover all costs to attend the symposium; all one needs is to get to Detroit.”
Drogs says TJS and its scholarship sponsors hope the scholarship will help eliminate information-sharing barriers within the industry. By attending the Jewelry Symposium, scholarship attendees gain access to experienced and talented jewelry-makers from around the world, which Drogs says could be career -and life-changing for those just entering the business.
“The current shortage of skilled bench jewelers is a serious concern,” he says. “Engaging with younger jewelers, especially with our practical, hands-on approach, is critical. We hope these scholarships will allow more young jewelry talent to get involved and get inspired, helping us all grow the future of our beloved fine jewelry industry.”
The Jewelry Symposium, now in its second year, features seminars and networking to educate jewelry industry professionals and advance jewelry-manufacturing technology. For 2024, the TJS board has curated talks on current tech issues, including artificial intelligence, 3D printing, watchmaking, and jewelry forensics.
Outside of the educational programs, TJS attendees socialize and network. There is collegial and genuine affection among participants, Drogs says, as many of them attended the Santa Fa Symposium, the now-defunct predecessor to TJS, for decades.
“It becomes an open exchange of information, techniques, and conversation about the pitfalls, stumbles, and failures we all experience. We cover all of it,” Drogs says. “It has created this jewelry family of people who have attended for numerous years who are willing to help, mentor, and grow our trade.”
Top: The Jewelry Symposium offers students, apprentices, and interns attending on scholarship the opportunity to network with fine jewelry professionals. (Photo courtesy of the Jewelry Symposium)
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