Montreal, Qc. (August 17, 2018) — This week 15 deserving Armenian students are fulfilling their educational dreams thanks to the generous donation from the Louisiana-based Stuller Company. The students are the recipients of $75,000 in scholarships for their studies in 3-D design using the Matrix 3-D CAD software program, the world’s leading tool to create jewelry design, in collaboration and the support of the École de gemmologie de Montréal. The scholarships have an estimated value of $5000 for each student.
“Our new 2018 educational initiative will provide Armenian newcomers to Canada a competitive advantage like no other,” says Pierre Akkelian, Chairman of the Swiss based Armenian Jewelers Foundation, President and Co-Founder of Canadian Gem and Nishi Pearls.
“Matrix, the world’s leading jewellery design program is being offered with the complements of our good friend and “Honorary Armenian,” Matt Stuller. His generosity is allowing 15 of our students to pursue their careers with knowledge and confidence.”
Founded in 1970 by Matt Stuller, Stuller Incorporated, with 1300 employees spread out across 5 global operations, is the largest jewelry manufacturing and distribution facility in the United States, and an industry leader in the domestic and international wholesale jewelry sectors.
“Armenians are renowned as master jewelers and a hardworking people; we’re pleased to support young Armenians and help them enter the very exciting and inviting jewelry business,” says Matt Stuller.
Akkelian spearheaded this special project teaming the American company with 15 deserving Armenian-Syrian students. His efforts included creating partnerships with sponsors like Marie-Hélène Corbin, of l’École Gemmologie de Montréal and Mr. Jean Salette, from the St. Martin Hotel Group, both of whom generously contributed to the success of this project
“Our aspiring students, who chose the best country in the world to immigrate to, are here to lead peaceful lives and create a better future, filled with opportunities. They don’t have the financial resources for specialized education. But, they’ve come to Canada with a desire to enhance their knowledge, learn a specialized craft and contribute to the Canadian economy,” says Akkelian.
Gemvision, a subsidiary of the Stuller Inc., group, recently released the new version of the world’s most advanced jewelry design suite Matrix 9.0. “The matrix essentials classes, lay the foundation to help students learn the fundamentals of understanding how to take an idea and bring it to fruition,” says Matt Bennett, Director of Sales and Training at Gemvision, a subsidiary of Stuller Inc., “These intense classes provide the core tools of design and how to take a digital file and create the 3-D version, allowing students a specialization in design or manufacturing.”
The intense 5-day course will be followed with extended learning via access to the Matrix 3-D Cad online course modules. With their new certificates, graduating students will be proficient in jewellery design, seeking better employment opportunities in the industry as designers, bench jewelers, customer service and other related areas.
This program helps students understand that jewellery is not simply a gratifying profession, but also an art of self-expression. Successful projects like this are dependent on the generosity of patrons and sponsors large and small and AJF is thankful to all of them. To date, AJF educational initiatives have supported more than 140 students in Armenia and Canada in gemology and related fields.
About Armenian Jewellers Foundation
The Armenian Jewelers’ Foundation was established in 2013 to advance the heritage of Armenians in jewelry. AJF’s mission is to undertake historical research, document present-day success-stories and ensure the transfer of knowledge to a new generation. The international scholarship program promotes and supports students in Armenia and the Diaspora to further their specializations by providing scholarships and quality education and training.
About Stuller
Founded by Matthew Stuller in 1970, Stuller, Inc. headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana: prime manufacturer provides a wide range of goods and services for jewelry professionals worldwide. Stuller’s core product categories include: bridal jewelry, wedding bands, fine jewelry, mountings, diamonds, gemstones, findings, metals, tools, packaging, and digital solutions.
About Gemvision
Acquired by Stuller in 2009, Gemvision is a provider of innovative jewelry solutions with a global network of authorized dealers serving jewelry professionals worldwide. Headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, Gemvision also has offices in Bettendorf, IA and Barcelona, Spain.
