Hillsdale College announced Friday that Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of its founder, Charlie Kirk, will serve as the keynote speaker during graduation ceremonies this May. “Charlie Kirk became a national and international sensation, and he built something amazing. At his memorial service were the great, the near-great, and tens of millions watching. But that isn’t why we loved him. We loved him because he was, at heart, a student who worked hard to get it right,” Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn said in a statement. “Erika Kirk, brave and widowed, intends to carry on. And we will help her.” Dr. Arnn announced during Kirk’s memorial service in September that Hillsdale College will confer honorary doctorates on both Charlie and Erika Kirk at the May 2026 graduation ceremony. Previous honorary degree recipients include Justice Clarence Thomas, Edwin J. Feulner, Bishop Robert Barron, Pat and Lesly Sajak, and Victor Davis Hanson. “I’m privileged to know lots and lots of high-minded, intelligent and serious young people,” Arnn said. “Charlie is one of the best I ever saw. It’s an honor to have known him.” Kirk became the CEO of TPUSA following the assassination of her husband last September. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Arizona State University and a Juris Master in American legal studies from Liberty University. “It is a great honor to be invited to speak at the Hillsdale College Graduation Ceremony on May 9,” Kirk said. “Charlie loved Hillsdale deeply and was often a grateful student of its online courses, learning from Dr. Larry Arnn and the remarkable faculty, who are so committed to truth and the pursuit of wisdom.” “Hillsdale represents something rare in our time — a steadfast devotion to faith, learning, and the principles that sustain a free nation,” she added. “I am sincerely grateful for the invitation and look forward to being there with all of you. God bless you.” Hillsdale, an independent liberal arts college in southern Michigan, is revered for being one of the only institutions of higher learning with a strong conservative Christian identity. Founded in 1844, the college has a reputation for offering a classical liberal arts core curriculum and never accepting federal or state taxpayer subsidies, including student grants or loans.

President Donald Trump, as well as some of the biggest names in sports, are at the White House Friday for a roundtable discussion on college sports. “The president wants to save college sports,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Friday, “It’s very important to him and to so many athletes across the country to fix the broken system.” According to Fox News, the president is fed up with the overspending on players and the constant transfer of players between schools. A big focus of the meeting will be how to rein in NIL, which stands for name, image, and likeness. NIL is how the players make their millions. Another area of focus will be collective bargaining. “The president is saying enough is enough,” Darren Botelho said. Trump is not against players being paid, but instead he is focusing on keeping college sports as amateur as it can be in the new NIL era. Trump will be the chair of the Saving College Sports Roundtable, alongside vice chairs Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees President Randy Levine. Notable sports figures attending Friday’s gathering include Nick Saban, Tiger Woods, Urban Meyer, and Tony Dungy. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is set to attend alongside several NCAA conference commissioners and media execs. In total, more than 30 people will be in attendance. As of now, there are no current players or coaches participating in the roundtable. In response to the lack of current athletes attending the roundtable, Temple University football player Kahlil Poteat said: “We deserve a seat at the table. We as athletes are the reason the stands are filled, logos are worn, and the game thrives the way it does. Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamed about making it to the Division I level to play the sport I love. It is unfair and unfaithful to hold a discussion without the main attraction in mind. We deserve a say, just like the executives and leaders, in sports and in our futures. I believe that we, as athletes at every level, deserve to be at the table and fight for our best interest. We want college sports to thrive just like everyone else in the room. So let’s bond together to generate the best outcome for all.” Trump hasn’t shied away from sports during his second term; the president signed an executive order to ban third-party pay-for-play payments, while allowing legitimate NIL endorsement deals. He also called on schools to expand “opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports.” Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has long supported Trump getting involved with the landscape of college sports. Last May, Tuberville said he is confident the Trump administration can find a solution to the current chaos at the college level. “While I’m all for players making money, we need to create national standards to protect the integrity of college sports,” Tuberville said.

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