Turning Point USA launches prep-year program to forge conservative leaders after founder’s death

Turning Point USA introduced a nine-month prep-year program in Fort Worth, Texas, targeting recent high-school graduates with a classical, Christian liberal-arts education designed to instill character and wisdom. Dean David Arnott explained that the curriculum draws on the Great Books and Socratic dialogue, aiming to prepare students for any future path, whether college, trades, or other pursuits. The first class of 34 students began on September 2, 2025, and graduated on May 22, 2026, with about one-third enrolling in college, another third entering trade careers, and the rest undecided, including a recent application for a Mike Rowe Scholarship.

Founder Charlie Kirk, whose 2022 book warned of a “college scam,” was assassinated on September 10, 2026, eight days after the program’s inception. Arnott stressed that the goal is to produce more leaders like Kirk by focusing on wisdom rather than merely academic facts, especially as AI reshapes education. The program plans to expand to additional sites in Elgin, Illinois, and increase enrollment to up to 80 students.