Jared Ross was selected by the Gemological Institute of America as its “2006 Outstanding Distance Education Graduate of the Year.”

Ross, 23, earned GIA’s Jewelry Business Management diploma in just a year’s time while also working a full-time sales job. He excelled in the GIA School of Business and completed the program with an A average.

Ross said he knew the jewelry industry was for him when he was 17, working for a family jeweler in Nebraska. Two years later, after managing one of the store’s kiosks, Ross realized that getting a jewelry education was essential to reaching his goal of one day running his own operation.

Ross said working with jewelry is all about passion and bringing love to life. “There is a passion that GIA has set into me, so I strive for more.”

This same passion helped to fuel Ross’s winning entry as the outstanding graduate. Presented annually by the Distance Education Training Council, the award is given to one exceptional GIA Distance Education student who has achieved extraordinary standards of academic and personal excellence. DETC is the national Accrediting Commission that sets standards for and accredits GIA’s Distance Education courses and programs.

“We chose Jared as this year’s outstanding graduate not only because of his excellent academic record and strong work ethic, but also because of his remarkable passion for the industry,” said GIA Vice President of Education Brook Ellis.

Ross can now be found working for Tiffany & Co., in the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, where soon he hopes to become manager.

JCK