TIJT holds fall 2008 graduation ceremonies

Published or Revised January 14, 2009

The Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, a division of Paris Junior College, held fall semester graduation ceremonies Thursday in the Ray Karrer Theater. Ulla Raus, TIJT division chair, introduced Paris Junior College President Dr. Pamela Anglin, Dean of Business Services John Eastman, and TIJT faculty and staff. Raus thanked the PJC Board of Regents and the TIJT Advisory Board Members for their support of the program. Raus then introduced keynote speaker, Chari Bierlein. Bierlein was a TIJT gemology instructor for 12 years before becoming a Senior Project Manager in Product Safety Compliance for J.C. Penney Company. Penney's is not only one of the oldest retailers, celebrating 106 years, but is also one of the only retailers that maintains its own quality assurance testing laboratories since 1929. Bierlein manages the Quality Assurance Jewelry Lab, which is part of the JC Penney Product and Research and Technology Laboratories. She also oversees Product Safety Compliance for all the private brand goods including jewelry for the company. Bierlein shared her career story starting as a student and graduate of TIJT, working in the jewelry industry, returning to TIJT as an instructor, then being recruited by J.C. Penney. Her position takes her all over the world to various factories that produce goods for the Company. She told the graduates about the motivational book, "The Fred Factor" by Mark Sanborn that is widely used by Penney personnel. The four principles of the book include: "Eveyone makes a difference," "Success is built on relationships," "Continually create value for others" and "Reinvent yourself regularly." Raus announced the nominees for the Stuller Awards for Excellence and named the winners. Jacqueline Bartush of Muenster won the Platinum Award ($500). The Gold Award ($300) was won by Johanna Simpson of Paris. The Silver Award ($200) was presented to Aryn Jolley who is from Alpharetta, Georgia. Student design contest winners are Carlos Aguirre from Houston, who won the top award in finished pieces, Best in Show, and the Student Association Officers Award. Johanna Simpson won the Cad/Cam Award; Jessie Williams won the Art Medals Award; and Heather Cannon of Paris won the Rendering Award. Receiving certificates of completion in Jewelry Technology were Emily Chao and Josh Vanderburg, both of Paris; Cristin Nelson of Monkstown; Gerald Shirey and Judy Shirey of Buda; Ryan Michael Richard of Texarkana; Morgan Walker of Dallas; Jessie Williams of Austin; Dave A. Mire of Wolfforth; Nathan Isaiah Hunter of Detroit, Mich.; and Amy Lynn Dalton of Gibbstown, N.J. Jewelry Bench Technician graduates were Ellen Rehm of Forney; Deborah E. Bobb of Antlers, Okla.; Ryan Elwell of Lawton, Okla.; and Jason Crook of Clarkridge, Ark. Students completing the Horology program include Eugene Patrick Raus of Paris; Mark T. Myers of Ennis; Jason Applebaum of Brooklyn, N.Y.; David Edward Marchant of Gloucester, Mass.; and Yuichiro Omori of Tomakomai, Japan. Kevin Larsen of Mariposa, Calif., received a certificate for Fine Mechanical Watch Repair. Graduates of the Computer Aided Jewelry Design program were, Johanna Simpson, Ashley Calloway and Rachel G. Kelsoe of Avery; Rebecca A. Simpson and Morgan Walker of Dallas; Amanda McElduff of Tatum; Jessie Williams of Austin; Jacqueline Bartush; Morgan Lindy West of Port Neches; Dustin Floyd of Crossett, Ark.; Bruce S. Newton of Joplin, Mo.; Monika Oberle of Clalfin, Kan.; Jeanette Turner of Tillamook, Ore.; and Jarred Bleacher of Bath, Penn. Students receiving Casting certificates were Sylvia Provence of Paris, Ryan Richard, Amy Dalton, Jacqueline Bartush and Jessie Williams.