A Fresno State honors society has closed its door after nearly 100 years

Founded at Fresno State in the fall of 1925, the Tokalon Women’s Honors Society was established to highlight women’s achievements.

Female students applied for scholarships and lifelong memberships. Applicants were awarded based on their commitment to their field of study and the Fresno State and Central Valley community.

After 95 years of granting scholarships to 360 women to celebrate their academic achievement, Tokalon has ceased its existence.

“It was an honor to be accepted. It is sad that now there’s no women’s honors group at Fresno State,” board member Joyce Fisher told The Bee. Fisher graduated from Fresno State in 1955.

Board members began discussing the possibility of disbanding around 10 years ago.

“There was no new blood to take over, so we decided to start getting rid of the funds we had accumulated over the years by granting more scholarships,” said Fisher.

The Tokalon society has given away $699,925 in scholarships. Over the last four years, the society gave away ten scholarships each year valued between $5,000 and $7,500. This 2019-2020 scholarship year, the society also gave two additional $2,500 to qualified female students.

During this past year, the Tokalon board donated its remaining $10,000 to the Student Cupboard. An anonymous donor matched the donation.

“Members are pleased with the decision to donate our remaining funds to the student cupboard,” said Fisher. Because it served as a final way in which the Tokalon society could support Fresno State.

This story has been corrected to note the Tokalon society donated to the Student Cupboard at Fresno State.

This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 11:01 AM.