On Sunday, September 21, 2025, a crowd estimated at over 100,000 packed State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative activist. The somber occasion, marked by both grief and celebration, became the stage for a series of remarkable announcements that underscored Kirk's influence and enduring impact on American political and educational life.
Among the notable speakers at the memorial were former President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk. Yet, it was Hillsdale College President Dr. Larry P. Arnn who delivered perhaps the most unexpected tribute of the afternoon. Taking the podium, Dr. Arnn revealed that Hillsdale College would bestow its highest academic honor—an honorary doctorate—on the late Kirk. The degree, Arnn explained, would be formally presented to Erika Kirk on May 9, 2026, coinciding with the college's commencement ceremony.
"Erika doesn’t know this yet, we are giving Charlie and Erika the greatest respect a college can give. An honorary degree," Arnn declared, drawing thunderous applause from the assembled mourners, as reported by Fox Business and Turning Point USA. The announcement, which had been kept secret even from Kirk's widow, resonated deeply with the crowd, many of whom had followed Kirk's career from his early days as a young activist to his status as a national figure.
Dr. Arnn, who first met Kirk when the activist was just 19 years old, spoke warmly of their relationship and Kirk's intellectual curiosity. "I keep a list in my head of the six or eight young people who are the best I ever saw. Charlie is the only one who was never a full-time student at Hillsdale College who is on that list. We will miss him dearly. He can't be replaced," Arnn said, according to Turning Point USA and Hindustan Times.
Kirk's connection to Hillsdale College, a small, Christian, classical liberal arts institution located in Hillsdale, Michigan, was not widely known prior to the memorial. Though Kirk never enrolled as a full-time student, he was a dedicated participant in the college's online learning program. Launched in 2011, Hillsdale's online courses have attracted more than 4.2 million Americans, offering free instruction in history, politics, economics, philosophy, religion, and more. Kirk, according to Hillsdale's Associate Vice President of Media and Public Relations Emily Stack Davis, "took some 30 of our online courses."
Dr. Arnn elaborated on Kirk's engagement with the college's curriculum, sharing a personal anecdote: "After Charlie had taken one of our online courses, passed the examination, received his certificate, photographed himself with it, and texted it to me. Before his death, he did that many times. The prevailing subject was always something he wanted to know." This detail, reported by Hindustan Times, highlighted Kirk's ongoing thirst for knowledge and his appreciation for Hillsdale's commitment to teaching "the truth and to live by it."
The honorary doctorate, which will be presented next spring, is not the only posthumous recognition Kirk will receive. Earlier in September, former President Trump announced that Kirk would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. "President Trump announced that he would posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom," reported Fox Business and The Washington Times. The twin honors—one academic, one civic—reflect the breadth of Kirk's influence and the respect he commanded across different spheres.
In addition to these tributes, Dr. Arnn announced the establishment of a scholarship fund for Kirk's children. "A scholarship has been set up for Kirk’s children in the hope that Charlie’s children will go to a good college. I have one in mind," Arnn quipped, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd, according to Turning Point USA. The scholarship, he explained, was a gesture aimed at ensuring that Kirk's legacy of learning and inquiry would live on through his family.
Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, has long positioned itself as a bastion of classical education and civic virtue. Its mission, as stated on its website, is to provide "all who wish to learn the education necessary to preserve the civil and religious liberties of America." The college's online program, which Kirk so eagerly embraced, is an extension of this mission, making its courses accessible to millions nationwide. For the academic year 2025-2026, the total fees for full-time students are around $48,210, though the online offerings remain free, according to Hindustan Times.
Kirk's educational journey was unconventional but emblematic of his independent spirit. He attended Wheeling High School and briefly enrolled at Harper College in Illinois before dropping out. Later, he took classes part-time at King's College in New York City but did not earn a degree—a fact he referenced in his later career. Hillsdale's honorary doctorate, therefore, marks the first time Kirk will receive formal academic recognition, albeit posthumously.
Reflecting on Kirk's legacy, Hillsdale College has dedicated a page on its website to his memory, accompanied by a video message from Dr. Arnn. The tribute reads: "Hillsdale College mourns the loss of our dear friend, Charlie Kirk. His deep and abiding faith, thirst for knowledge, and moral and intellectual courage were the hallmarks of his life and work. We are blessed to have known him—and we pray for his dear wife and children."
The events in Glendale served as a powerful reminder of the profound ways in which individuals can shape institutions—and vice versa. Kirk's relationship with Hillsdale College, while informal, was deeply meaningful to both parties. As Dr. Arnn put it, the honorary degree represents "the greatest respect a college could give." In honoring Kirk, Hillsdale also affirmed its own values: a commitment to truth, independence, and the enduring importance of classical education in a rapidly changing world.
As the crowd in Arizona dispersed, the memory of Charlie Kirk lingered—not only in the speeches and accolades but in the promise that his legacy will inspire future generations of students, thinkers, and citizens. The scholarship for his children and the posthumous honors ensure that his influence, and the debates he sparked, will continue to resonate far beyond the confines of one extraordinary afternoon.
