5 Students Win $10K in Jewelry Design Scholarships

Five students across the country are getting the financial boost they need to turn their passion for jewelry making into a career.

The MJSA Education Foundation announced its 2026 "Future of Jewelry Making" scholarship winners in August, awarding $2,000 to each recipient. The nonprofit supports students pursuing professional careers in jewelry design and craftsmanship.

Lianna Carter from Charlotte, North Carolina, is training at the New Approach School for Jewelers in Tennessee. She's completing a comprehensive bench jeweler course this year, mastering the hands-on skills that bring designs to life.

Lauren Edwards of Oak Park, Illinois, and Thomas Koslowski of Southbridge, Massachusetts, are both studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Edwards enters her senior year this fall and will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in jewelry and a minor in art history in spring 2027, while Koslowski begins his junior year in the same program.

Erin Perry from Portland, Oregon, chose a focused path at the Portland Jewelry Academy. She's earning a certificate in advanced fabrication and manufacturing techniques and expects to complete her program by year's end.

Heran Wang of Dix Hills, New York, will head to the Gemological Institute of America's Carlsbad, California campus. He plans to enroll in GIA's Graduate Jeweler program, combining technical expertise with creative vision.

The Ripple Effect

The MJSA Education Foundation does more than write checks. The organization also runs the MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program, which just celebrated its first Advanced Apprentice graduate this year.

By supporting both formal education and hands-on apprenticeships, the foundation is preserving centuries-old craftsmanship techniques while encouraging innovation. Each scholarship recipient brings fresh perspectives to an industry that blends artistic expression with technical precision.

The investment in these five students represents more than career development. It's a commitment to keeping handmade jewelry thriving in a world increasingly dominated by mass production.

These scholarships prove that when we support young artists learning traditional crafts, we're investing in beauty that will last for generations.