Class of 2027
B.S. in Biology, Minors in Global Health and Chemistry
Utilizing the funding I received from my Benenson Award in the Arts, I enrolled in a jewelry design and gemstone analysis class, Jewelry Essentials, at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to complete my Applied Jewelry Professional degree. This four week course based out of New York, New York and Carlsbad, California helped develop my understanding about former and contemporary jewelry design practices and certified me as a professional within the jewelry industry.
Most of my knowledge about the history of colored gemstone mining and jewelry design has been accrued through years of independent study. By this exploration, I have been introduced to the many artistic styles of jewelry throughout history. Recently, I have been focused on advancing my ability to design gemstone carvings onto faceted stones. This type of carving technique is called the Intaglio Process. My goal for studying at GIA this summer was to gain a better understanding of how to tailor my designs to be suitable for utilization in high-fashion jewelry.
With that said, I had the opportunity to interact with other professional jewelry designers, gemstone faceters, and metalsmiths during my time studying at GIA’s New York City campus. There, I developed a cohesive professional network and cultured my understanding about the many aspects that factor into jewelry design. In such a way, I also gained a more technical understanding about how to incorporate CAD 3-D modeling software into my jewelry to create more detailed patterns within the metalwork.
One of the most interesting aspects about taking the course I did at GIA was that it immersed me within the Diamond District of New York City. I had the opportunity to not only learn about how jewelry design is executed in theory, but also how it is in practice by larger design houses. Overall, the Benenson Award in the Arts allowed me to culture my knowledge about jewelry design in a way that was like no other, and I am extremely thankful for this opportunity.