TIJT fall 2011 graduation ceremonies held

Published or Revised December 16, 2011

Paris Junior College's Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology held fall semester graduation ceremonies Thursday in the Ray Karrer Theater for students completing jewelry technology, gemology, fine mechanical watch repair, computer aided jewelry design and casting. Keynote speaker Brian Wallis, president and CEO of Millennium Precious Metals, told the graduates of his experiences in setting out on his own in a new business. He said honesty, truthfulness and perseverance is what helped him become successful. He challenged the graduates to use the same attributes. "Make yourself known," he said. "Don't take 'no' as an answer from someone not in the capacity to tell you 'yes'". The Stuller Awards for Excellence given by Stuller Inc. of Lafayette, La., provides company credits to aid graduates in obtaining needed supplies. Stuller, Inc. is a company supplying tools, findings, and materials needed in the industry. The $500 Platinum Award went to Scott Edward Bradford of Canyon, Texas. The $300 Gold Award was given to Kaylee Jo Wilson, of Fort Collins, Colo. The $200 Silver Award was presented to James D. Fausett of Phoenix, Ariz. Mary M. Woods of Memphis, Tenn. was awarded the $100 Bronze Award. James Fausett received a Fine Mechanical Watch Repair certificate. Jewelry Technology graduates are Wanda L. Huston of Three Rivers, Texas; Hailey Berlene Guild of Dallas; Scott Bradford; James D. Fausett; Thadyas Meeks of Dallas; and Donald Lynn Conklin and Jessica Rian Stephens, both of Paris. Gemology graduates are Brandall Harris of Houston; Ashley Robert Spurlock of Longview; T. Paul Unger of Huntsville; James R.J. Murray of Winnsboro; Ladona V. Couch of Paris; Kenneth Lee Shaw of Dallas; Hannah E. Pickett of Wylie; Kenneth Lee Shaw of Lake Dallas; and Patrick Featherman on London, Ontario, Canada. Receiving Computer Aided Design certificates are Harlan Wayne Skarphol Jr. of Fort Collins, Colo.; Nate Bartush of Laramie, Wyo.; Cassidy Jo Swanson of Adel, Iowa; Jessica Whitney Walla of Carmel, Ind.; Eric Andrew Fincher of Summerville, SC; Victoria McGuire of Pecan Gap; Jessica Rian Stephens; Forrest Aaron Mehard of Benbrook; Tu Hoang of Houston; and Logan Paul Kelley of North Richland Hills. Casting certificates were presented to Wanda Huston, Harlan Skarphol Jr., Victoria McGuire, Patrick Featherman and Kaylee Jo Wilson. The overall winner in the Student Association design contest was James Fausett. Fausett also placed first in the CAD Finished Piece category. The Computer Aided Design class winner was Jessica Walla. Wanda Huston was top winner in Beads. Harlon Skarphol was the winner in the Rendering category as well as the Finished Piece category. Lapidary Arts winner was Wanda Huston. Art Metals winner was Marquirez Chavez of Greenville. The Wax Carving winner was Shanna Morphew of Paris. The CAD/CAM Renderings category was won by Cassidy Swanson.