Bey the humanitarian strikes again!
This time the superstar is blessing aspiring jewelry industry professionals with a scholarship to pursue their dream careers.
According to Black Enterprise, renowned jewelry designer, Lorraine Schwartz has partnered with Beyoncé to build the scholarship which was awarded to three people within the Black community. Full tuition will go toward the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Audriana Osborne, Shelton Bradford, and Kulla Jatani were hand-selected by the “Black Is King” creator to receive The Beyoncé Knowles-Carter x Lorraine Schwartz GIA Scholarship in the amount of $20,000 each.
“I’m so full of gratitude. I’m honored, and I’m so excited for the opportunity,” said Osborne in an interview with WSFA. “The hope for me is to absolutely learn all I possibly can and fuse the knowledge I have now and the career I have now with a career in the jewelry industry.”
All funds will cover tuition, fees, equipment travel, and other expenses for on-campus lab classes at GIA.
“Her work for the Black community is without limit and her efforts have inspired me and made me extremely proud to be her friend and partner on this initiative,” said Schwartz.
Recipients of the scholarship were also graced with the Grammy award-winning singer’s presence in a video conference that announced the winners.
“I was impressed with their passion and the knowledge of gems that so many applicants displayed,” Beyoncé said during the call, according to Black Enterprise. “I am praying that this is just the beginning of opening more doors to diversity and raw inspiration in the jewelry industry.”
Not only is Osborne excited to be one of the scholarship recipients, but she too is hopeful that this will begin to open the door for more Black jewelry designers.
“To be able to reach back, show that we are in this field and to help the next person coming along to enter it and to be able to be blessed with an opportunity just like I was today; to be able to get into this industry and go even forward and carry the torch,” Osborne said.
Check out the video of the three winners being announced below: