The Gemological Institute of America announced that the 2008 Richard T. Liddicoat Scholarships have been awarded to Grant Herrin and Christian De Bor. The recipients were revealed at the annual GIA Alumni Association auction and dance party held at the Tucson trade shows on Feb. 8.

The RTL Scholarship Fund was created by the GIA Alumni Association in 2003 to honor Liddicoat, the Institute’s longtime president and chairman, who is regarded as the “Father of Modern Gemology.” The fund furthers GIA and Liddicoat’s mission of providing gemological education to worthy students by awarding two full scholarships each year in the GIA Graduate Gemologist diploma program.

Herrin, 23, of Shreveport, La.. said he will use his GIA education to foster his professional interest in estate jewelry. Herrin received his bachelor’s degree in history from Louisiana State University and has worked in the jewelry industry for nearly eight years with jeweler, Sid Potts, Inc. He explained that through attending industry trade shows he determined obtaining a GIA Education would provide him with the highest level of knowledge in gemology to further his career in the industry.

Once Herrin completes his G.G. at the Carlsbad campus he is planning on returning to Sid Potts, Inc. and pursuing a Masters of Business Administration degree.

De Bor, 45, of Gloucester City, N.J., discovered an interest in gemology in his early childhood.

As a young boy, De Bor would cut and polish stones he discovered on the beach and by age 9, he became an amateur lapidary. He went on to become an intern at the Smithsonian Institution and then to receive his undergraduate degree at Haverford College. After graduating he worked in the jewelry field though various positions in customer service, sales, merchandising, appraising, and management.

De Bor is planning on receiving his G.G. to become a jewelry designer.

Both scholarship winners were recognized by Donna Baker, GIA president, during the ceremony in Tucson.

2008 RTL scholarship recipients, Christian De Bor (left) and Grant Herrin (right) are pictured with Donna Baker, GIA president

JCK