Local P.E.O. members recognized Caroline Toland for her academic achievements at their meeting Tuesday night.
Toland was one of 36 high school graduates across the state to receive a P.E.O. STAR Scholarship. She is the daughter of Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland and Beth Toland, who continue to call Iola home. Caroline’s grandmother, former Iolan Nancy Toland, also attended the meeting.
Chapter L members also used the occasion to celebrate the chapter’s 120th birthday.
Patti Boyd introduced Caroline Toland to the club, noting the women of her family have deep roots in P.E.O., a philanthropic organization that supports women’s education through scholarships and grants.
“Her mom is a P.E.O., her grandma is a P.E.O., and her great-grandma and great-great-grandma were P.E.O.s,” noted Boyd. “But, that isn’t the only reason she got the scholarship — she got it for a lot of reasons.”
A 2025 graduate of Topeka High School, Caroline served as president of the English Honor Society and was a member of both the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society.
“Through these organizations, she supports community literacy and learning by collecting and delivering donated books to libraries, and by providing math tutoring to elementary students,” said Boyd.
Beyond the classroom, Caroline was team captain and a state qualifier on the Topeka Girls Swim Team. She also held the position of Principle String Bass for the Topeka High Premier Orchestra for four consecutive years.
Her dedication to service extended into the community as well. She worked as a children’s swim instructor for the Topeka Swim Association and became a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the age of 16. She later interned as a patient care technician at a local hospital. “She does all kinds of things that help others through her service,” Boyd remarked. “It’s not about her, but about others. And I think that that’s probably the little nugget that got her across the line in being awarded this scholarship.”
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship is a highly competitive, one-time $2,500 award given to exceptional young women in their final year of high school who demonstrate outstanding leadership, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and dedication to community service. Of this year’s 96 applicants only about one-third received scholarships.
Boyd described Caroline as “so genuine and thoughtful” during the interview process, adding that her authenticity left a strong impression on the committee. “She is a positive role model for others, demonstrating discipline and commitment in all of her pursuits,” she said.
Caroline will attend the University of Kansas this fall where she has been accepted into its honors program.
In addition to honoring Toland, Chapter L celebrated a milestone — its 120th birthday. Founded on June 6, 1905, by eight women, the chapter has maintained steady membership through generations. Members marked the occasion by sharing notable historical events from 1905 and enjoying birthday cake.
