Local Jeweler Wins National Jewelry Competition Blue Springs, MO-based jeweler Trisha Kennedy-Thompson receives award for creativity, artistry, style and excellence in jewelry design

New York, NY – Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, has named Trisha Kennedy-Thompson of Kennedy’s Jewelers a first-place winner in the 2026 CASE Awards, the association’s annual jewelry design competition. The award recognizes Kennedy-Thompson’s outstanding achievement in the category of Retailer Best in Show.

Selected from more than 120 entries, Kennedy-Thompson’s winning piece stood out for its creativity, originality, style, and craftsmanship. The CASE Awards — which stand for Creativity, Artistry, Style and Excellence — celebrate the best in jewelry design from JA Member companies across the country. A panel of industry experts judged the submissions and selected winners across eight design categories.

“The CASE Awards celebrate the creativity and innovation that continue to shape the future of fine jewelry,” says Amanda Gizzi, spokesperson for Jewelers of America. “This year’s honorees, including Kennedy-Thompson’s, demonstrate an exceptional ability to merge technical mastery with distinctive artistic vision, creating pieces that are both deeply personal and visually compelling.”

Trisha Kennedy-Thompson received the award for a 14K yellow gold custom made necklace set with 201.64 carats of cabochon tourmalines with a variety of pink, green, and bi-color stones, with 6.63 carats of accent diamonds.

Kennedy’s Jewelers is a proud member of Jewelers of America, which represents the most professional and trustworthy jewelry businesses in the United States. As a JA Member, Kennedy’s Jewelers is committed to upholding the highest standards in ethics, customer service, and craftsmanship, in accordance with JA’s Code of Professional Practices. For more information about Kennedy’s Jewelers, visit www.kennedysjewelers.com.

The 2026 CASE Awards are sponsored by Synchrony. The competition is open exclusively to employees of Jewelers of America Member companies. To learn more about the CASE Awards and to view the 2026 Winner’s Photo Gallery, visit https://www.jewelers.org/news/ja-in-the-news/jewelers-of-america-2026-case-award-winners or contact Jewelers of America at (800) 223-0673.

Retailer Best in Show

Kennedy’s Jewelers Designed by Trisha Kennedy-Thompson Blue Springs, MO

14K yellow gold custom made necklace set with 201.64 carats of cabochon tourmalines with a variety of pink, green, and bi-color stones, with 6.63 carats of accent diamonds $56,150

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About Jewelers of America: Jewelers of America is the most trusted and influential voice of the jewelry industry. With a mission to empower and unite its members, Jewelers of America provides expert guidance, education and advocacy to promote excellence, integrity, and success in an evolving marketplace. Since 1906, Jewelers of America has been advancing the fine jewelry industry, setting high ethical standards and fostering professional growth for their members. Jewelers of America represents a large, diverse membership of retailers and suppliers in the United States, who commit annually to the organization’s Code of Professional Practices.