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Meet WJA's 2025 Scholarship Recipients
The Women’s Jewelry Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 WJA Foundation Scholarships. Each year, these awards support emerging and established jewelry professionals pursuing education, professional growth, and leadership within our industry.
We congratulate all of this year’s recipients and celebrate their passion, creativity, and commitment to advancing the world of jewelry!
2025 STULLER BENCH JEWELER Scholarship recipient
ALEJANDRA GARCIA
Alejandra Garcia is an emerging bench jeweler whose artistry and precision reflect her dedication to the craft. With a strong foundation in metalsmithing and repair, she has developed a skill set that balances technical expertise with a deep appreciation for design. Her work demonstrates a commitment to craftsmanship, detail, and the enduring beauty of jewelry as both wearable art and a symbol of human connection.
Currently, Alejandra is focused on advancing her bench techniques through specialized training and continued hands-on practice. Her long-term goal is to establish herself as a master jeweler, creating meaningful pieces that blend tradition with modern innovation.
As the 2025 recipient of the Stuller Bench Jeweler Scholarship, Alejandra is receiving support to expand her education and refine her technical skills. This opportunity provides her with resources to continue building her career while strengthening her role within the larger jewelry-making community.
"I am honored to receive the Stuller Bench Jeweler Scholarship. This award gives me the tools and confidence to grow as a craftsperson and to continue pursuing excellence at the bench."
2025 HEDDA SHUPAK-Baum Memorial Scholarship recipient
Nadja de Sá Van Diest
Beyond the bench, Nadja is the founder and host of Pass The Torch: Legacies in Jewelry, a podcast devoted to preserving the stories of artisan jewelers and industry professionals. Her platform explores the threads of craft, identity, and connection within the art form. She also serves as Vice President of the WJA Colorado Chapter Board, where she supports mentorship and community engagement.
With support from the Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Media and Communications Scholarship, Nadja plans to pursue a graduate degree in journalism to deepen her impact as a communicator and storyteller within the jewelry industry.
“Receiving the Hedda Schupak-Baum Memorial Scholarship is a profound honor. It affirms the vision behind Pass The Torch and fuels my commitment to pursuing the world’s most exceptional jewelry stories through curiosity, integrity, and thoughtful media.”
2025 Helene Fortunoff Women in Retail Scholarship recipient
Shanon Sallis
Shanon Sallis is a dedicated jewelry professional whose career blends artistry, precision, and a deep respect for the traditions of fine jewelry. With experience spanning design, bench work, and client collaboration, she approaches her craft with both technical mastery and creativity.
Shanon’s journey in the jewelry industry has been guided by her commitment to continuous learning and her desire to inspire others through her work. She views jewelry as more than adornment—it is a meaningful expression of personal stories, cultural heritage, and human connection.
As the recipient of the 2025 Fortunoff Scholarship, Shanon is pursuing advanced education that will allow her to expand her skill set and further her impact in the industry. She is deeply grateful to WJA for its support in helping her take the next steps in her professional journey.
"This scholarship is an incredible honor that gives me the chance to pursue new opportunities in jewelry education. I’m inspired to keep growing as a craftsperson while also giving back to the community that has given me so much."
2025 CINDY EDELSTEIN Scholarship recipient
Ani Khachian
Ani Khachian is a jewelry designer and creative visionary whose work reflects both her technical training and her passion for storytelling through design. With a background rooted in fine arts and a growing expertise in metalsmithing, Ani approaches jewelry as a powerful medium for expressing culture, identity, and emotion.
Her journey in the industry has been shaped by a drive to honor tradition while also pushing boundaries with innovative design concepts. Ani is particularly inspired by the ways jewelry can connect generations, preserve personal narratives, and create lasting symbols of love and meaning.
As the 2025 recipient of the Cindy Edelstein Scholarship, Ani is pursuing advanced studies and mentorship opportunities that will support her growth as both a designer and an entrepreneur. This award represents not only an investment in her education, but also a recognition of her potential to contribute to the evolving future of the jewelry industry.
"Receiving the Cindy Edelstein Scholarship is both humbling and motivating. Cindy’s legacy of championing emerging designers inspires me to continue building a career rooted in creativity, purpose, and innovation."
2025 GABRIEL LOVE Scholarship recipient
Elizabeth Alli
Elizabeth Alli is a gemology student pursuing a Graduate Gemology degree through the online program at the Gemological Institute of America. An accomplished scientist in the field of cancer biology and pharmacology, Elizabeth is making a midlife career transition to follow her passion for jewelry and gems.
Initially inspired by her late father, Elizabeth has nurtured a lifelong fascination with gemstones and the unique way gemology bridges science and art. She aspires to bring this interdisciplinary approach into the luxury jewelry market—creating personalized jewelry and gift items with the potential to benefit cancer research.
With support from the Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship, Elizabeth will complete her gemology degree and take important steps toward establishing her new career in the jewelry industry.
“I am deeply grateful for receiving the 2025 Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship. As an autistic female embarking on a midlife career change, this award has given me the hope, confidence, encouragement, and opportunity to pursue my passion for gemology and professional goals in the jewelry industry.”
2025 STUDENT Scholarship recipient
Elle Jerge
Gabrielle "Elle" Jerge is a jewelry designer pursuing her BFA in Jewelry Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Her work unites storytelling, femininity, and technical innovation — taking inspiration from film, travel, and the duality between beauty and mystery found in both jewelry and storytelling.
Elle has completed design collaborations with brands such as Movado and LoveShackFancy, and recently interned with the Women's High Jewelry team at David Yurman.
As the 2025 WJA Student Scholarship recipient, Elle receives vital support that will help her continue her education and strengthen her foundation as an emerging jeweler..
"Jewelry has always been part of my story. My mom was a jewelry designer, and she used to call me "Tinker Bell" because I was always creating and building things. Receiving this WJA scholarship helps me continue that journey, moving forward in my academic and professional career with the same sense of curiosity, craftsmanship, and passion that first inspired me to design."
ANGEL FUND scholarship
The WJA Foundation's Membership Angel Fund was created to expand access to WJA membership by covering the annual dues for selected recipients. This fund supports students, emerging professionals, and those in transition within the jewelry industry, giving them the opportunity to connect, learn, and grow within the WJA community.