World-renowned jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz gifted this scholarship to her close friend and long-time client, Mrs. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, recognizing the power of education to build opportunities and generational wealth. Mrs. Beyoncé’s selection of the three recipients centered around the applicants’ narratives about what they intend to achieve, share and build with the knowledge they gain at GIA.

“This scholarship is an homage to Beyoncé for the inspiration she's given me throughout my career. It's about the love formed from relationships and knowing that at the end of the day, we are all the same. Now I have the opportunity to bring that inspiration full circle and show the community the endless possibilities that are in this industry, especially for Black professionals,” said Schwartz.

The three award recipients, Shelton Bradford, Kulla Jatani, and Audriana Osborne drew on their life experiences in their essays. They shared the origin of their passion for gems and jewelry and what they will do with the opportunity to increase Black representation in the industry. The three were profoundly inspiring, and they embraced a community-centric approach to creating more opportunities for others.

GIA Scholarship Recipients:

Shelton Bradford
Kulla Jatani
Audriana Osborne

GIA Scholarship Recipient Spotlight: Kulla Jatani

"I felt so honored to receive the Beyoncé Knowles-Carter x Lorraine Schwartz GIA Scholarship. Attending GIA was a lifelong dream of mine, so receiving this scholarship truly felt like a dream come true. With this support, I was able to complete my Diamond Graduate Certification and am now on the path to earning my Graduate Gemology Certification," Jatani said.