January 1, Turning Point Student Leaders Unite After Kirk Tragedy

Wyatt’s Take

• Turning Point USA students are shaken but determined after Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
• Many share how Kirk inspired them and vow to keep his legacy alive.
• The movement is growing, with thousands wanting to join chapters nationwide.

Turning Point USA student leaders are standing strong after the tragic loss of their founder, Charlie Kirk. They’re grieving, but their focus is set on carrying on Kirk’s fight for conservative and faith-driven values.

“I think we all kind of had the idea that Charlie was going to be around for at least another 50, 60 years, like, the new face of our generation leading the charge,” Sarah Baldwin, vice president at the University of Michigan, said. “And it’s like that whole future just got taken out from under us in the course of a single day.”

Lauren Jones, co-president of the chapter at Georgia College & State University, recalled, “It was instant shock, disbelief.” She remembered being at the library when she found out. “This can’t be real,” she said.

Charlie Kirk was only 31 when he was killed while speaking at Utah Valley University. He founded Turning Point USA in 2012 as a teenager and quickly became a major figure in the conservative movement.

By September 10, Turning Point USA had 900 college chapters and around 1,200 high school chapters, according to spokesman Andrew Kolvet. The organization reports over 62,000 requests from students wanting to join or start chapters since Kirk’s passing.

Jones said she still can’t believe what’s happened, having just seen Kirk at recent events. She wondered, “How do we move forward from this?”

Mia Simmons, another student leader, remembered meeting Kirk at a leadership summit. “I had the opportunity to meet him this summer… you could tell that he genuinely cared for every student he talked to and invested in them personally,” Simmons said.

Now, Simmons feels driven to continue Kirk’s mission. “After this tragedy, I really feel led to get to work, to continue to make an impact on campus with biblical and constitutional values,” she said. She wants to encourage her peers to make a stand for their beliefs, even in tough times.

Charlie Clontz, president at Clemson University, said the future means honoring Kirk by advancing his vision. Erika Kirk, Charlie’s wife, was recently named the new CEO and board chair for the group.

“We need to continue to let Charlie’s legacy live on,” Clontz said. “Charlie was a passionate fighter for conservative values, constitutional liberty, freedom of speech and whatnot, and ultimately a man of faith.”

Kristina Parker, chapter president in Waterville, Maine, spoke about the emotional struggle students feel. “There’s a huge conflict between… great sadness and people being really devastated and disappointed, and a lot of people are very angry as well at what has happened,” Parker said.

But she also sees hope and determination. “We want to carry on Charlie’s legacy and what he has done. So the two come in waves… but also intense motivation to continue working hard because he wouldn’t have wanted the movement to end with him.”

The drive to hold onto American and constitutional values hasn’t faded for these students, and the interest in joining their ranks is higher than ever.

If you want to support students working to preserve conservative values on campus, learn more at the link below.

Wyatt Matters

In tough times, everyday Americans know it takes grit to keep going. This is a reminder that heartland values and faith run deeper than tragedy, and that a shared mission can unite communities and help build a future rooted in what matters most.

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