RAPAPORT...  Press Release: The 19th annual MJSA Vision Awards Design Competition, celebrating outstanding talent in the field of jewelry design, is accepting entries in five categories for 2010. New features this year include a Visionary Technical Solution category that will recognize outstanding technical achievement. The competition will also offer an expanded range of prizes, from gift certificates to scholarships to featured ad placements in leading industry trade journals.
 
This year's submissions must be postmarked by January 15, 2010. The categories open to independent or company-employed jewelry designers include:
 
• Design Excellence, for designs that exhibit exceptional creativity, craftsmanship and marketability;
 
• Visionary Technical Solution, for designs in which specific technical challenges — such as combining two non-complementary metals — were overcome to take the piece from concept to completion;
 
• Laser Distinction, for entries in which the design relied upon the use of a laser (sponsored by LaserStar Technologies); and
 
• Gold Distinction, for entries that include a minimum of 75 percent of a karat gold alloy in the design (sponsored by Hoover & Strong).
 
In addition, students in any jewelry-related program may submit rendered designs for the Future of the Industry Award, which recognizes exceptional design achievement and potential.
 
All MJSA Vision Award winners will be honored at a March 16 ceremony during the annual MJSA Expo New York, scheduled for March 14 to 16, 2010. Winning entries will also be on display at the Expo for thousands of buyers and exhibitors and they will be featured or recognized in special ad pages in InStore magazine, Metalsmith magazine, and the association's own MJSA Journal. Additional prizes include:
 
• The grand prize Design Excellence winner will receive a $1,000 gift certificate from Rio Grande and the first-place Visionary Technical Solution winner will receive a $500 gift certificate from Rio. Second-place Design Excellence and Visionary Technical Solution winners will receive a full library of MJSA Press publications (a value of up to $372).
 
• All first-place Distinction winners will receive $500 cash awards; second-place Distinction winners will receive $250 cash prizes.
 
• The first-place Future of the Industry winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the MJSA Education Foundation, payable to any jewelry design, jewelry making or other jewelry-related degree program at a U.S. college, university or technical school. The second-place Future of the Industry winner will receive a $500 scholarship from the Foundation.
 
For submission guidelines or to download an entry form, go to the Career Center at mjsa.org or email info@mjsa.org. For more information, email MJSA or call 1.800.444.6572.

About Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America
Founded in 1903, Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) is a national trade association based in Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts that provides the resources and support necessary for U.S.-based jewelry designers, manufacturers and suppliers to compete successfully. For more information, call MJSA at 1.800.444.6572 or visit www.mjsa.org.

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