Yesterday, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced his partnership with Turning Point USA (TPUSA) to bring Club America chapters to all Nebraska high schools.
“Certainly, the goal is very, very achievable, that we can have a chapter in every school in the great state of Nebraska,” he said in a press conference held Tuesday afternoon. “And it certainly can be that we can grow and have lots of students involved, and that we can learn from each other and interact so that we truly understand how great the United States of America is, so we understand how great the state of Nebraska is. And that we learn to have civil, civic engagement so that our voices are heard.”
Turning Point USA, an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics and was founded by Charlie Kirk, aims to get students involved civically with its Club America chapters.
“We’ll aim to double our footprint across the Cornhusker state on our way to our end goal of putting a Club America chapter in every high school,” Nick Cocca, Enterprise Director for TPUSA, said.
Pillen, along with Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Creighton University’s Club America President Emma Smith and Cocca, all spoke to Kirk’s life and legacy at the press conference yesterday.
“Charlie (Kirk) inspired me,” Pillen said. “Charlie’s vision has inspired countless Americans to simply just stand up and talk about faith, talk about our family, talk about our love of country, talk about our values. I don’t see anything political about that, I see it as right and wrong, God and Satan, and it’s really, really important.”
Pillen hopes his initiative will carry on Kirk’s legacy.
“We can help young people learn more about the constitution, develop leadership skills and be engaged in civic civil engagement. That’s what Charlie’s approach was,” he said.
However, it is unclear how Pillen will achieve his goal. To create a Club America chapter, one needs at least three students, a teacher advisor and school administration approval, followed by registering online with Turning Point according to their website. But, with this new partnership, if a student is unable to form a Club America chapter at their school, the school’s administration would have to “answer to the state on that,” according to Cocca.
Gretna East administrators have specific guidelines for creating a club, but it always starts with a student. If students are involved, and they obtain a sponsor (who must be a staff member) and their club is not affiliated with a specific political party, administration said they cannot foresee issues with the club’s creation.
Other states, such as Montana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida and Texas, have adopted this partnership as well, but questions have been raised about political clubs in public schools.
The Nebraska State Education Association released this statement yesterday:
There are currently over 1,200 Club America chapters in the U.S., according to the Club America website. Nebraska has about 40 chapters between high schools and colleges, according to Cocca.
“I understand we have 10% of Nebraska schools, and there’s maybe 300, so we’ve got about 290 to go,” Hilgers said.
While there has not been a Club America chapter established at East, other schools in the Metro have. Millard North, Millard South, Bellevue West, Papillion La Vista South and Gretna high schools all have chapters; however, Gretna was the only high school that was mentioned by Cocca during the press conference.
“Shout out to our Gretna High School leaders who are here today,” he said. “They hosted Lt. Gov. Kelly a couple of months ago, and that’s just one example [of students connecting with civic leaders].”
Gretna High students and Club America members, seniors Grace Kempkes and Hailey Vincent, attended the press conference yesterday. GHS’s Club America chapter is sponsored by math teacher Brendan Raybourn and has about 15 members.
“It [GHS’s Club America chapter] was recently started after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which brought our first meeting as honoring him,” Kempkes said. “We have a representative from Turning Point USA meet with us roughly every month. It means a lot to have a club available at school for people that share the same views and passions for America like I do, and it gives us an outlet with our peers. Governor Pillen’s new initiative makes me proud that we have a local politician on our side. It’s not like students will be forced to attend, but it provides an opportunity for the students who are interested.”
Smith also spoke at the press conference about her experience with Club America at Creighton University.
“Politics used to be a thing I avoided entirely; now it’s become a part of my everyday life,” she said. “Not because I have to, but because I want to. Because I care deeply about the direction of this country and I believe my generation has the responsibility to protect what is right, rational, and worth preserving…The future of the conservative movement is not waiting until our graduation. It’s already happening. It’s already starting chapters. Already stepping into leadership. And already changing the culture.”
Smith told Nebraska Public Media that their chapter faced issues getting started at Creighton, but that Turning Point USA provided the funding.
Pillen reflected on the future of Nebraska at the end of the press conference.
“Our future of Nebraska and our future of the country is extraordinary because of our youth,” he said. “These, the next generation, will be bolder and more courageous than what my generation’s been. They will make sure all views are heard, and I couldn’t be more proud. Because of our youth, our country will continue to be the greatest country in the history of the world.”
