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== Founder Charlie Kirk ==

== Founder Charlie Kirk ==

[[File:Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|The group's founder, Charlie Kirk]]

[[File:Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|The group's founder, Charlie Kirk]]

The group's founder and current leader, Charlie Kirk, grew up in [[Prospect Heights, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kirk, Charlie, and Hamachek, Brent|title=Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=838mDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=%22charlie+kirk%22+%22PRospect+heights%22&source=bl&ots=hj6VPuzx8q&sig=zaJYp1kUnpHy4Moz09-a4yNOpPY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3w4bwiqHYAhUmxlQKHW9dB_oQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20kirk%22%20%22PRospect%20heights%22&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2016|page=4}}</ref> Kirk became politically active during high school. In his junior year of school in 2010, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican [[Mark Kirk]] (to whom he is not related).<ref name="perfect-storm">{{cite news|title=Perfect storm launches 19-year-old Wheeling native into political punditry|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130429/news/704299942/|work=Daily Herald|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>

The group's founder in the wake of his assassination his widow [[Erica Kirk]] is the current leader, Charlie Kirk, grew up in [[Prospect Heights, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kirk, Charlie, and Hamachek, Brent|title=Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=838mDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=%22charlie+kirk%22+%22PRospect+heights%22&source=bl&ots=hj6VPuzx8q&sig=zaJYp1kUnpHy4Moz09-a4yNOpPY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3w4bwiqHYAhUmxlQKHW9dB_oQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20kirk%22%20%22PRospect%20heights%22&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2016|page=4}}</ref> Kirk became politically active during high school. In his junior year of school in 2010, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican [[Mark Kirk]] (to whom he is not related).<ref name="perfect-storm">{{cite news|title=Perfect storm launches 19-year-old Wheeling native into political punditry|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130429/news/704299942/|work=Daily Herald|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>

In 2012 when he was a high school senior, Kirk wrote an essay for ''[[Breitbart News]]'' alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks leading to an appearance on the [[Fox Business Network]]. At a subsequent speaking engagement at [[Benedictine University]]'s "Youth Empowerment Day," Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to get engaged in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news|author=Nelson, Rebecca|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-becoming-a-major-player-in-conservative-politics/451110/|title=The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics|date=March 25, 2015|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]}}</ref>

In 2012 when he was a high school senior, Kirk wrote an essay for ''[[Breitbart News]]'' alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks leading to an appearance on the [[Fox Business Network]]. At a subsequent speaking engagement at [[Benedictine University]]'s "Youth Empowerment Day," Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to get engaged in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news|author=Nelson, Rebecca|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-becoming-a-major-player-in-conservative-politics/451110/|title=The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics|date=March 25, 2015|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]}}</ref>

According to Kirk, he dreamed of attending the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York]], but his application was rejected.<ref name=":1" /> According to ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Kirk said "the slot he considered his went to 'a far less-qualified candidate of a different gender and a different persuasion" whose test scores he claimed he knew. Kirk later said he was being sarcastic when he made the comment.<ref name="new yorker">{{cite news|author=Mayer, Jane|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=A Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses Faces Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity|date=December 21, 2017|newspaper=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref>

According to Kirk, he dreamed of attending the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York]], but his application was rejected.<ref name=":1" /> According to ''[[The New Yorker]]'',  

Kirk took general education classes at [[Harper College]], a local [[community college]]. He founded Turning Point USA while studying at Harper.<ref name="perfect-storm"/>

Kirk took general education classes at [[Harper College]], a local [[community college]]. He founded Turning Point USA while studying at Harper.<ref name="perfect-storm"/>