Pillen announces partnership to help bring Turning Point USA clubs to Nebraska high schools

Gov. Jim Pillen announced a partnership with Turning Point USA Tuesday to create high school chapters, called Club America, across the state.

Nick Cocca, Club America enterprise director, said no funding from the state is part of the deal. He added that having state support helps students who may face pushback for starting a chapter.

“We've done this in Florida and Texas and Tennessee, Montana,” he said. “Essentially, if we had any issues at the school level where administrators, anyone was trying to stop a student from starting a club, generally, they would have to answer to the state on that.”

The press release ahead of the event said any school administrators who try to deny a student from starting a chapter will face consequences, although it does not specify what those consequences are.

Pillen didn’t take any questions following the event to explain those consequences.

Emma Smith, chapter president at Creighton University, said her group saw several challenges to starting their club. First, they were denied because of funding, which Smith said the group explained they didn’t need because TPUSA helps fund the club. Then, they had to wait.

“It was just delay after delay after delay until last week, when we finally got approved,” Smith said. “They didn't really make us jump through any extra hoops or anything, but it was definitely a slower process than it was for most clubs.”

Smith said it’s harder without club status to recruit and host meetings. Having that official approval gives them a place to meet and the ability to spread the word.

“We weren't allowed to post any flyers or let anybody know that we were really operating within Creighton's community, even without that name,” Smith said. “So being able to advertise ourselves, get the word out, host events — we're working on hosting a speaker this April — all these things would not be possible without that Creighton name.”

Smith added that there was backlash from the Creighton community to starting a chapter, which she believes played a role in the delay to getting university approval.

Currently, there are about 20 high school chapters in Nebraska and 17 college chapters, Cocca said.

Tim Royers, Nebraska State Education Association president, said in a statement that students have the right to start non-curriculum-related clubs, but he took issue with the governor’s approach.

“At the same time, there is a clear and important distinction between clubs that are initiated by students based on genuine interest and a statewide initiative directed by the governor’s office,” he said. “Decisions about student activities are best made locally by school boards, administrators, educators, parents and students – not through a statewide mandate.”

Royers added to that statement in a post on X, saying it’s “beyond unacceptable” for the governor to use his position in this way.

Cocca said Club America chapters are optional for students to join.

“It's really considered an extracurricular activity, meaning, if students have a particular interest and want to join, that's amazing. We welcome that.” Cocca said. “At the end of the day, it's an option, no different than, say, joining the chess club or the football team. If it's not for you, then it's not for you.”

He said for those wanting to start a chapter, it takes at least three interested students.

Many of the comments during the announcement included gratitude to Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was shot and killed during a university visit in October. Pillen said Kirk led with “civic civil engagement.”

“He inspired me,” Pillen said. “I hope that these young people here today inspire all of us to take a step further, to just stand up and say, ‘we can have good debate, we can talk, we can work through it.’”

Cocca pointed to Kirk as an example of how high schoolers involved in Club America can learn to lead.

“Charlie understood that open debate is not something to fear, but an opportunity to make your voice heard, to be challenged and to learn from different perspectives,” Cocca said.

Smith shared that sentiment, saying Kirk inspired her chapter to continue pushing for official club status at Creighton.