Greater Jefferson County Foundation Scholarship Series - Part 7

[Editor’s note: This is seventh in a series of informative articles regarding the scholarships available from The Greater Jefferson County Foundation.]

The next four scholarships offer criteria ranging from Music to Nursing.

Andrew and Dorothy Crile Pohren lived all their lives in Jefferson County. Through hard work and good management, they became successful farmers. Andrew and Dorothy enjoyed working with young people and were involved in local 4-H clubs for many years. Betty taught elementary school for thirty years. This scholarship was established by their children in 2006. It is a four-year scholarship at $1,000 per year.

John Jackson established his first music scholarship for FHS seniors in 2006. Jackson was a member of the 34 th Infantry Division Red Bull Band and traveled to Europe, playing in Italy when he served in the WWII Theater. He was also involved with our locally based 34 th Army National Guard Band for many years. Although John owned the local Fairfield Feed Company, instrumental music had been a big part of his life.

This scholarship is $5,000 and the criteria includes attending a 4-year college or university, majoring or minoring in instrumental music or other area of music, and must have participated in concert or marching band while at FHS.

Mrs. Grace Roberts graduated from Fairfield High School in 1927 and St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1930. She worked at St. Joseph Hospital in the early '30's.

Then in the 1940's, she and her husband operated bus depots in Ottumwa, Iowa City and the Fairfield Motel. From 1948 to 1952, they owned/operated the Lakeview Motel, restaurant and gas station in Yukon, OK. They came back in 1952 to help care for Grace's parents. She was a nurse at the Van Buren County Hospital from 1955 to 1971, until her retirement.

Grace passed away in 2006, but it was her desire to help students wishing to pursue a career in the field of nursing with this annual scholarship. Her nephew, Jim Salts, created this scholarship of $1,000.00 to assist a graduating FHS senior student to pursue their career in nursing, in her honor.

The Jeanne Thoma Memorial scholarship was created by her daughter, Pat Thoma Wheeler in 2009. Jeanne was a devoted wife, mother, and educator. A graduate of the University of Iowa, she came to FHS in 1929 to teach Math and English. In 1959, following the death of her husband, she returned to FHS where she was a Guidance Counselor until her retirement in 1973.

As a counselor, Jeanne encouraged students to pursue their education beyond high school and was instrumental in helping many students receive scholarship monies to attend college or trade school.

In addition to being a founding board member for the FHS Wall of Honor, Jeanne was also very active in the Fairfield community. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority, American Association of University Women, Child Abuse Board, GJCF Scholarship Committee, Fairfield Women’s Club, PEO, Fairfield Golf & Country Club and First Presbyterian Church. This scholarship has been established in her memory to assist a graduating FHS senior meet their career goals.

The 2025 scholarship application process will begin December 1, 2024 with a deadline of February 1, 2025. Both FHS and Pekin senior students are welcome to apply. Online applications will be available on the application website at www.gjcfscholarships.org. For more information, contact the Foundation at gjcf0758@windstream.net or call 641-472-0758.