PJC’s TX Institute of Jewelry Technology spring 2017 awards
Published or Revised May 18, 2017
At top, the Stuller Awards were given to the top graduates from PJC’s Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology. Shown from left are Platinum winner Daniel Vela, Bronze winner Donald Lewis, Gold winner Rachel Robinson, and Silver winner Carlos Rosales. Center, winner of the jewelry student design contest was Michael Lyons of Carrollton, for Copper Repoussé Pin. Below, watchmaker and head of the TIJT Industry Advisory Committee Clay Minton delivered the keynote speech at the ceremony.
A spring semester awards and recognition ceremony was held last week for students attending Paris Junior College’s Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology.
The student design contest winner was Michael Lyons for a Copper Repoussé Pin. Also given out were the Suller Awards for Excellence given by Stuller, Inc., of Lafayette, La. The company supplies tools, findins, and materials for the industry.
Stuller opens an account for the student in the amount of their award so they may purchase needed supplies. The $200 Bronze Award went to Donald Record Lewis III, the $300 Silver Award was presented to Carlos I. Rosales; the $400 Gold Award went to Rachel Robinson; and the $500 Platinum Award went to Daniel Vela.
Second generation watchmaker Clay Mintor of Blossom, who heads the TIJT Industry Advisory Committee, was featured speaker at the ceremony. Minton began learning the trade from his father at age 12 and has been in the watch repair and restoration business for 36 years and authored several articles for jewelry and watch trade magazines. He has won the President’s Award from the Texas Watchmakers Association and was named an Industry Star in 2001 by Jewelers of America.
Minton is a longtime member of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, AWCI’s Chronology Club, and The National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors. Featured as a Christian Watchmaker. In 2003, his activity in his church got him featured as a Christian Watchmaker in “Evangel International Magazine.”
Minton repairs and restores Zodiac watches to museum grade for the Zodiac Watch Company museum. He’s lived or visited 14 countries, but chooses to reside in Lamar County. Married, with two married daughters and six grandchildren.
Minton encouraged the students who were graduating by telling them, “you were born to climb,” and reminded them that when they were born they already knew how to do five things: cry, sleep, deposit solids and liquids, eat, and climb.
“You learned how to stand on that crib, hold on to the railing and look over the top,” Minton said. “No one had to read a manual, download an app on your phone, or watch a video on YouTube. You knew how to do it because you were born to climb.”
Receiving Jewelry Repair Technician certificates were Bella Aghyarian of Flower Mound, Jaclyn Campsey of Quanah, Chance Cox of Norman, Okla., Killian W. Kendrick of Wilmington, Del., Rachel Robinson of Fort Worth, and Logan Vitaly Wiedeman of Hallsville.
Receiving certificates in Jewelry Technology were Stefan Butkovich of Lewisville, Meagan Ruth-Francis Deal of Paris, Tony A. Henderson of Milwaukee, Wisc., and Carlos I. Rosales of Mesquite.
Fine Mechanical Watch Repair certificates went to Timothy A. Kollar of Reno, Kathryn S. Marshall of Pensacola, Fla., and Jesse D. Womack of Redding, Calif.
Sophia Phanthamany of Keller and Bryan Nicholas Powell of Austin were awarded certificates in Horology Technology.
