The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) recently selected Diane H. Shock, Ph.D., of Columbus, Ohio, as its Outstanding Distance Education Graduate of the Year for 2003. The award is presented annually by the Distance Education Training Council (DETC) to an exceptional student who has achieved extraordinary standards of academic and personal excellence. DETC is the national organization that accredits GIA’s distance education courses and programs.

Shock has been employed in education for 30 years, the past 15 with the Ohio Department of Education. She plans to retire from her current career in June 2003 to pursue her longtime passion for gems and jewelry. To date, Shock has earned GIA’s Accredited Jewelry Professional and Diamonds Program diplomas and is completing studies for her Graduate Gemologist diploma. She has a job waiting for her at Johnson Family Diamond Cellar, an upscale jeweler with two stores in Columbus, and plans to write a book about antique jewelry.