Jewelry tool and supply leader gives one young designer a $750 prize and a fully stocked tool kit through the HERE WE ARE High School Award

Rio Grande is sponsoring the new HERE WE ARE (HWA) High School Award at the ninth edition of NYC Jewelry Week (NYCJW), taking place November 16–22, 2026 across New York City and online. The award will be presented Friday, November 20 at the Future Jewelers Academy Awards Night at Jewelers Mutual® Studio, the education hub of NYCJW, at 22 Wooster St. in SoHo.

Launched in 2019, HERE WE ARE is a NYCJW initiative that tackles inequity and underrepresentation in the jewelry industry through meaningful action. The program spotlights creators and raises awareness of diversity, inclusion, equity, representation, and allyship.

The HWA High School Award will go to one student from the Future Jewelers Academy, who will receive a $750 check and a Rio Grande tool kit fully stocked with bench essentials. The student’s work will be on display at Jewelers Mutual Studio, which is free and open to the public November 18–21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The award fits this year’s NYCJW theme, Craftsmanship, by helping a young designer build skills at the bench from the start.

“Every jeweler starts somewhere, and the right tools make a real difference in those first years at the bench,” said Dennis Claspell, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Rio Grande. “This year’s NYC Jewelry Week celebrates craftsmanship, and that starts with quality tools and the confidence to use them. We’re proud to help a young designer set up a bench of their own and keep creating.”

“HERE WE ARE is a strategic initiative aimed at tackling inequity and underrepresentation in the jewelry industry. This Award was created so that every young person who loves this craft can see a place for themselves in it. Adding a high school award lets us reach students right when they’re deciding what comes next. We’re grateful to Rio Grande for joining us and for showing one young maker, in a very concrete way, that the industry is ready for them,” Bella Neyman, Founder of NYC Jewelry Week.

The Future Jewelers Academy Awards Night takes place Friday, November 20, 5–7 p.m. at Jewelers Mutual Studio. Events are free and open to the public, but space is limited. RSVP at nycjewelryweek.com.

For more information on the HERE WE ARE Awards, visit here.

For more information on Rio Grande, visit RioGrande.com or call 1-800-545-6566.

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