New scholarship opportunity for area high school seniors

The Greater Jefferson County Foundation is honored to announce the administration of a new scholarship for the 2026 disbursement period. The Van Tasell Scholarship Fund has been created by Dr. Stephen Van Tasell and will be $1,000.00 annually, awarded to graduating FHS or Pekin senior students who will major in pre-med, pre-dental, pre-pharmacist, nursing, or some other medically related field.

Dr. Van Tasell practiced dentistry in Fairfield for nearly 40 years. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1967, and served in the U.S. Air Force in England for two years before moving to Fairfield.

Dr. Van Tasell has received a fellowship and Masters Award in the American College of Dentists and he was named Outstanding Young Dentist of the year in 1985. He is Life Member of the Iowa Dental Association and American Dental Association and past trustee of the Iowa Dental Association.

Although he now lives in Coralville with his wife of 23+ years, Danella, Dr. Van Tasell is resolute about giving back to the Fairfield community. “I’d been talking with my accountant about setting up an annual educational scholarship using the Greater Jefferson County Foundation as the administrator. I think it is only fitting that the money goes back to Jefferson County.”

The scholarship(s) will be available for application Dec. 1 with a deadline of Feb. 1 on the Foundation’s website at www.gjcfscholarships.org. For more information, contact the Foundation office at 641-472-0758, or email gjcf0758@windstream.net.