First-gen Centre student inspired to heal the world, named Goldwater Scholar
When it came to choosing a research subject that would impact her future career, Caroline Toler knew she wanted to help the most people she could.
“My first interest in this topic came with knowing that heart disease is the leading cause of death in adults in the U.S.,” Toler said. “It is so immense. There are so many different varieties of it.
“It’s just absolutely interesting how maybe changing one tiny protein can cure someone’s disease. Trying to understand those minute details is insanely fascinating.”
In recognition of her research and work, Toler, class of 2027, has been named a Goldwater Scholar. She was one of the 454 scholars selected from a national pool estimated to be over 5,000 students.
The Goldwater Scholarship selects the nation’s next generation of leading researchers in science, engineering and mathematics. Nearly all intend to pursue a PhD.
After graduating, Toler plans to pursue a PhD in translational biology. She’ll continue conducting lab research, but her work will be applied in clinical settings and help patients directly.
“Caroline has an impressive career in academia as an undergraduate student,” said Robert Schalkoff, Director of the Office of Fellowships. “She was selected for two nationally competitive summer research experiences, coauthored two publications and has presented at national conferences. She also stands out on campus as a Grissom Scholar, student athlete, and resident assistant. This type of research experience combined with active campus citizenship helps Centre’s candidates stand out at the national level.”
Toler is the second consecutive Goldwater scholarship recipient from Centre, following in the footsteps of last year’s awardee Duncan McGinnis, class of 2026.
“It feels really cool to be able to represent Centre and help build Centre’s reputation with producing Goldwater scholars,” she said.
Over the past two summers, Toler researched different aspects of heart disease as an American Heart Association-sponsored Cardiovascular Fellow.
The summer after her first year at Centre was spent in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, at the University of Louisville. She researched scarred heart tissue resulting from injury or disease and its effects on heartbeats and contractions.
Toler was hesitant to apply to the summer program because it’s harder for students to be accepted after their first year. They haven’t taken the same classes or had the same experience as rising juniors or seniors, but Toler was encouraged by her mentors on campus to take the risk.
“I was really hesitant to apply because I felt I wasn’t going to get in, and there wasn’t a point,” Toler said. “And then it ended up working out, which I’m very glad for. I’m very grateful to my professors who have believed in me, and for Centre for teaching me the ways to form questions that make you think like a researcher.”
From her intensive research work to facing imposter syndrome as a first-generation student and even bouncing back in field hockey after two ACL tears, Toler has overcome several challenges during her college career. She has seen a common thread through all these experiences: the help and support of her Centre community behind her.
She emphasized how impactful the connections she’s made at Centre have been, from her professors who became her recommendation letter writers to Grissom Scholars staff who supported her journey as a first-generation college student and her teammates who cheered her on through recovery from two ACL tears.
“I want every first-generation student to know that I believe in them if no one else does,” she said. “You can do these things. They are hard and difficult. But you are able to do them, especially when you have a support system around you.”
