A Montgomery, Alabama, native is elated after she was named the recipient of the Beyoncé Knowles-Carter x Lorraine Schwartz GIA Scholarship.
Audriana Osborne was one of three people who were personally selected by the Grammy Award-winning singer to receive the $20,000 scholarship, WSFA reports. The funds will help cover Osbourne’s tuition, fees, equipment, travel, and other expenses for on-campus lab classes at the Gemological Institute of America.
“I’m so full of gratitude. I’m honored, and I’m so excited for the opportunity,” Osborne said. “The hope for me is to absolutely learn all I possibly can and fuse the knowledge I have now and the career I have now with a career in the jewelry industry.”
Reputable jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz partnered with the superstar to create the scholarship that awards three members from the Black community with full tuition toward GIA’s Graduate Gemologist diploma. “Her work for the Black community is without limit and her efforts have inspired me and made me extremely proud to be her friend and partner on this initiative,” Schwartz said of Beyoncé.
During a video conference announcing the winners, Beyonce praised the recipients for their natural passion for gemology. “I was impressed with their passion and the knowledge of gems that so many applicants displayed,” the Black Is King singer said. “I am praying that this is just the beginning of opening more doors to diversity and raw inspiration in the jewelry industry.”
Osbourne shared similar sentiments and expressed hope for other Black jewelry designers to apply for the jewelry scholarship. “To be able to reach back, show that we are in this field and to help the next person coming along to enter it and to be able to be blessed with an opportunity just like I was today; to be able to get into this industry and go even forward and carry the torch,” Osborne said.