A Wisconsin high school jewelry design competition, which has enlisted industry supplier Rio Grande as a sponsor in its fifth year, has the potential to influence young people to go into the jewelry business and could be replicated by schools nationwide, according to its cofounder.

Patty Gallun Hansen, the second-generation owner of Gallun Fine Jewelry in Cedarburg, Wis., founded the Love Has Many Facets design competition with Jack Henke, head of a local ad agency. Rio Grande’s sponsorship will elevate the program’s production capabilities, she says.

Working with their art teacher, students at Cedarburg High create original jewelry designs. A panel of three judges selects finalists among the designs, and local residents vote online for the winner. The winning piece is professionally manufactured and offered for sale, with proceeds going to the school’s art department.

“The response has been far beyond anything we imagined,” says Gallun Hansen. “People stop us all the time to thank us for creating this opportunity for students. Almost without fail they say the same thing: ‘I wish something like this had existed when I was in high school.’”

Initiatives like Love Has Many Facets could address the industry’s shortage of skilled bench jewelers, says Gallun Hansen. She developed the program as both a workforce development tool and as a tribute to how she learned the business, as she has fond memories of watching bench jewelers at Gallun Fine Jewelry, which her mother founded in 1950.

“High school students are full of creativity, energy, and imagination,” says Henke. “Adults sometimes become more cautious or even a little jaded, but students approach design with enthusiasm and boldness. They want to prove they can create something meaningful. When they see their ideas taken seriously—and when the community celebrates their work—it builds tremendous confidence and self-esteem.”

Gallun Hansen describes the origins of Love Has Many Facets: “I began by asking parents and high school students a simple question: ‘Did you know this was even a career option?’ The answer was always no.

“One morning, the idea hit me in the shower. And in one of those moments that feels like pure fate, that very same morning I ran into the Cedarburg High School principal at Costco. I cornered him and told him about the idea. He looked at me and said, ‘I love it. Make it happen.’”

The principal, Casey Bowe, connected Gallun Hansen and Henke with Cedarburg’s art teacher, Deb Mortl. Her enthusiasm allowed the program to grow to what it is today—six completed cycles and room for more, Gallun Hansen says.

“When you have a passionate educator like Deb guiding students, opportunities like this can really flourish,” she says. “High school is the moment when students are beginning to think seriously about their future. That future can be daunting if creativity is in your blood and you have no idea how to turn it into a career.”

Today’s youth are searching for new professional possibilities, according to Henke. “Many young people do not fit into the traditional molds of college or traditional trades like electrical work, plumbing, and mechanics,” he says.

“Jewelry manufacturing is rarely discussed,” he notes. “It combines creativity, craftsmanship, and technology. For students who love art and design, this industry offers a real opportunity to build a meaningful and sustainable career.”

Top: In art class, Cedarburg High School students design and make jewelry for the Love Has Many Facets program that is entered into a fundraising competition. (Photos courtesy of Patty Gallun Hansen)

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