(PRESS RELEASE) DALLAS — The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced the creation of the Dick Greenwood Memorial Scholarship in Gems Science in collaboration with the University of Arizona (UA).
The scholarship has been five years in the making, since Dick Greenwood, owner of A. F. Greenwood & Co., a wholesale gemstone business, died. Colleagues rallied together after his untimely death to honor the beloved dealer, who was generous to all, especially industry newcomers, with his time and knowledge. Greenwood ran the business that his father started and earned a reputation for honesty, integrity, and devotion to the industry through participation in various boards, including the American Gem Society, and serving as AGTA’s Board President twice, among other contributions.
Dick Greenwood, former gem dealer
Donations mounted shortly after his death, and AGTA Board President Kimberly Collins, of the eponymous gemstone firm, worked diligently to bring the scholarship to life during her three-year term, which ends at the 2025 GemFair Tucson.
“I am thrilled that we are finally able to make this education scholarship in Dick Greenwood’s name a reality,” says Collins. “This was one of my last goals as president, to make sure it came to fruition. Richard (Dick) Greenwood epitomized what AGTA strives for in the gemstone and jewelry industry. The highest ethical standards and integrity. He was always striving to learn more, to be better, to be responsible. To take care of those that enable us to be successful.”
AGTA CEO John W. Ford, Sr., lauds Collins for her persistence in seeing this scholarship through, from working with those who conceived the idea to filling out the final paperwork that gave the scholarship life.
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“The idea for this scholarship started at AGTA, but I want to credit Kim for never giving up on this idea and fulfilling this promise made to honor Dick Greenwood’s legacy,” says Ford. “Kim persisted to see it through to completion. This scholarship is the first initiative on a long list of commitments that AGTA has in store to bring more young people into the industry and work with the UA to do so.”
The scholarship is eligible to any student enrolled in his or her fourth year of a Geosciences degree at the UA Department of Geosciences. The student’s tuition and fees will be funded for a full year by a newly formed AGTA 501(c)(3) Foundation, which will accept tax-deductible donations from the industry as well as provide funding from its trade shows. Early in 2025, an AGTA Foundation scholarship committee will establish criteria to analyze applicants to determine one recipient each year for the fall and spring semesters. The first scholarship will be awarded for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters. AGTA will pay the student’s tuition directly to the UA, and this scholarship will exist in perpetuity.
Officials at the UA are delighted to offer their students this rare opportunity to have their tuition funded for study in the Geosciences department.
“We thank AGTA for its generosity in helping us move closer toward our mission of educating young minds who will fill and expand the pipeline of the next generation of gem and mineral experts,” says Joellen Russell, a UA distinguished professor, Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Integrative Science, and Head, Department of Geosciences. “The UA Geosciences is deeply impressed by the commitment of AGTA to our young gem and mineral scientists and their future careers. Collaborating with AGTA to train and support the next generation of gem science leaders has been a long-held goal of our UA Geosciences that we are delighted is growing rapidly!”
Questions about the scholarship can be directed to AGTA at [email protected] or to the UA to Scott Coleman, Director of Marketing and Communications for the College of Science, at [email protected].
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