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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ivanne Farr, 340.777.7774 or email: info@rareearthstudio.org
From: The Caribbean Islands Education Foundation, Inc. and Rare Earth Studio in historic Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
RE: GIA Accredited Jewelry Professional Intensive Diploma, includes Certificates in Jewelry Essentials, Coloured Stone Essentials and Diamond Essentials
CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE, EMPOWER & ENHANCE LIVES
The Caribbean Islands Education Foundation, Inc., and Rare Earth Studio are sponsoring internationally respected Gemological Institute of America instruction for the following class:
GIA’s Accredited Jewelry Professional Intensive Diploma Program – May 24-28, 2010 – This one-week intensive class meets each weekday – Monday through Friday – from 9 am to 4 pm at the Rare Earth Studio, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
This is an intensive study in an interactive classroom environment, which allows students to learn essential jewelry product knowledge and proven sales techniques needed to approach a customer, earn their trust, and close the sale. In just 5 days, confidence is gained in communicating the 4C’s of diamond value, and acquiring in-depth product information on diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and other precious and semi-precious gemstones.
Through hands-on practice in this accelerated program, students will gain the skills needed to provide accurate and compelling sales presentations. Learn about top-selling jewelry styles,
how to recognize and explain different manufacturing methods, and become familiar with karat gold and precious metals used in popular jewelry items. Students will also learn how to present treated, synthetic and imitation stones with full disclosure to their customers.
By the end of the program, knowledge attained will enable students to sell jewelry with confidence and have the opportunity to journey further into other facets of the jewellery industry.
The AJPI is an intensive class, which yields Certificates in Jewelry Essentials, Colored Stone Essentials and Diamond Essentials. At the end of the course, students who pass all exams will be awarded the globally recognized GIA Accredited Jewelry Professional Intensive Diploma.
What’s more, two of the courses in this AJPI program are also required courses for GIA’s coveted Graduate Gemologist diploma. Meaning, if you decide to advance to the Graduate Gemologist program, you’re already two steps ahead. To hold your place in the classroom, a 50% deposit is due by Friday, April 23, 2010 with the balance due May 7. This is a great opportunity for a new career!!! Tuition is $925
This course and class offerings are components of the coveted GIA Graduate Gemology Diploma. Classroom space is limited. Interested persons should contact Rare Earth Studio 340.777.7774 immediately. An administrative fee of $35.00 per application is required.
Interested participants who qualify under the Workforce Investment Act at VIDOL may be eligible for funding support. Beneficiaries of these gemology classes must be to be committed to introduction, re-careering, skill upgrading and entrepreneurship in the jewelry industry.
Gemology Studies Opportunities for U. S. Virgin Islanders
“Continuing with our vision of providing educational development of gemology and jewelry related education for the people of the U. S. Virgin Islands we are pleased to announce that our organization has received a Virgin Islands Department of Labor, Workforce Investment Act Eligible Training Provider Certificate. “This designation is a positive step toward the development of self-sustaining capabilities for the people of the Virgin Islands, and we look forward to providing a variety of empowering jewelry industry-related education on a regular basis”, stated Ivanne Farr, President Board of Directors of the Caribbean Islands Education Foundation, Inc., and director of Rare Earth Studio.
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to students: The Caribbean Islands Education Foundation, Inc., admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students. It does not discriminate on the admission policies, scholarship programs and other school-administered programs.
About the Caribbean Islands Education Foundation, Inc. and Rare Earth Studio:
The organization was established in 2006 after receiving a substantial 2005 Virgin Islands Legislative Appropriation for scholarships and education program development relating to the jewellery industry. This organization is a result of the commitment of the Caribbean Islands Alumni Chapter of the Gemological Institute of America, established in 2004, to bring education opportunities to the Caribbean Islands utilizing the world-renowned Gemological Institute of America education program.
The Rare Earth Studio classroom facility has been established in the heart of the jewellery industry in historic downtown Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas to offer design, smithery of precious metals, ancient lost wax casting, lapidary, and other special focus gemology related classes, workshops and seminars.
“Treasures of the Earth”, another Virgin Islands funded program, has benefited more than 1500 people in less than four years, including school children, educators, Girl Scouts, civic organizations, Safety Zone Summer Camp, VIERS summer camps, Work-Able, Inc., and church camps. This program encompasses many regional mineral and organic gem specimens in their natural state from the earth, showing a progression of cleaning, cutting and polishing of gemstones, design, metal smithery and/or final finished creation. Special focus is on Caribbean-wide natural resources.
The large jewelry industry in the Caribbean Islands benefits immensely from this project, with opportunities for their management and sales staff to have access to programs in gemology, jewelry sales promotion and jewelry manufacturing. These courses lead to industry acclaimed credentials such as the GIA Graduate Gemologist, Accredited Jewelry Professional Intensive and potentially a Graduate Jeweler diploma. GIA education gives individuals the skills and product knowledge necessary to secure potentially lucrative and personally rewarding careers in the jewelry industry.
Other opportunities at Rare Earth Studio will offer continued education through seminars and workshops, and a full Jeweler program is offered collaborating with specialized instructors.
About the Gemological Institute of America:
The Gemological Institute of America was established in 1931 as the educational resource for the gem and jewelry industry. Since its conception GIA has remained the “foremost authority in gemology”. In 1934 GIA invented the modern jeweler’s loupe, which enables jewelers and consumers to examine diamonds and gemstones under hand-held magnification. In 1937 GIA patented the Vertical Dark field Binocular Microscope that revolutionized the practice and study of gemology worldwide. In the late 1930’s GIA founder Robert M. Shipley created the famous 4Cs to help consumers understand and assess a diamonds overall quality. The 4Cs are Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight. Today the 4Cs remain the most popular means of explaining diamond quality to consumers. In 1953 GIA’s Richard T. Liddicoat developed and presented a revolutionary new grading system that communicated the quality of a diamond regardless of geographic location or language. This system was internationally adopted as the worldwide industry standard and became known as the GIA International Diamond Grading System. Liddicoat later earned worldwide recognition as the “Father of Modern Gemology”. Today the GIA D-Z color scale and GIA’s Flawless - I-3 clarity scale are recognized and used by virtually every professional jeweler and diamantaire in the world. Other major milestones and accomplishments in GIA’s history continued to make them the “Harvard of Gemology”.
GIA’s Alumni Association was established in 1982. The Caribbean Islands Alumni Chapter was officially recognized in August 2004. “Establishing the Caribbean Islands Chapter of GIA was just a stepping stone for the true agenda, which is to see GIA Extension Courses offered locally and regionally in the Caribbean Islands. These courses include the exciting Accredited Jewelry Professional Intensive Diploma, and other studies resulting in certifications and diplomas for Diamond Grading, Gem Identification, Colored Stone Grading, Pearl Grading, and Advanced Gemology. The Caribbean Islands Alumni Chapter, GIA has consistently received recognition awards from the Gemological Institute of America beginning in 2005 & 2006. In 2007 an officer was awarded the inaugural GIA Alumni International Leadership Award. In 2007-2009 officers and members awards were presented at the annual Alumni Awards banquet at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Exhibition.
Participation in the Caribbean Islands Alumni Chapter of GIA, a non profit organization, will also offer individuals and corporations opportunities to support fund-raising endeavors and to participate in the establishment of a permanent endowment fund for scholarships.
Also not to be underestimated is the potential impact this project has on the tourism industry in the Caribbean Islands. Tourists who arrive by plane and cruise ship want to buy jewelry from stores and businesses where the staff has a GIA education. GIA brings credentials to businesses and incites consumer confidence. This project also attracts people from neighboring islands interested in taking the courses and/or in supporting the Alumni Chapter.
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