SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — One day after former President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom posthumously to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, students at Southern Maine Community College held their first official meeting of a new Turning Point USA chapter on Wednesday afternoon.
The gathering, held on campus despite a last-minute room change, marked the first time a Turning Point USA collegiate chapter has been launched at a Maine college. Organizers said the event was intended to build momentum for the conservative youth movement in the state’s college system.
“This really means a lot. It’s super important carrying on Charlie’s message,” said chapter president Peter Bernaiche during opening remarks, noting the double booking that forced the group to meet in a common area. “The sky is the limit,” referencing the potential of the club.
The chapter has already been formally recognized by Turning Point USA’s national organization, allowing it to operate on campus and host events. Members said they are planning their first official campus debate on October 24 and have secured a $1,000 private donation to support early operations.
Leaders outlined plans for biweekly Wednesday meetings, recruitment drives, and upcoming activism campaigns. A group chat, social media accounts, and an educational website — LibertyTool.net — have been launched to help students share resources on constitutional principles, free speech, and individual liberty.
The growth of Turning Point USA chapters has accelerated nationwide in the months since Kirk’s assassination, according to organizational statements and media reports. Dozens of new chapters have formed at both high schools and colleges, with student leaders citing renewed interest in campus-based political engagement.
“We’re starting small, but we want to build something that lasts,” Bernaiche told attendees. “We’re here to educate and push back against the idea that only one side has a voice on campus.”
Chapter officers also noted that Turning Point’s official Southern Maine website will launch later this week, consolidating chapter updates, event information, and activism resources. The web address is www.tpusasmc.com.
The founding meeting drew students from several majors, including political science, computer science, and social sciences. Organizers said they intend to grow the chapter’s presence throughout the Portland region and beyond. The meeting was also attended by SMCC faculty advisor Daniel Ford.
Also in attendance were Vice President Morgan Redfield, Secretary Nathan Tilton, and Social Media Director Avva Cassidy.
Turning Point USA, a national conservative student organization, is already active on hundreds of campuses across the country. Its founder, Charlie Kirk, was honored at a White House ceremony Tuesday, where his widow, Erika Kirk, accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on his behalf.
Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, Turning Point USA reports that student interest in forming new chapters has exploded nationwide. The organization says it has received more than 54,000 inquiries from high school and college students across the country seeking to launch or join chapters.
Other sources note that 17,700 of those requests were directed specifically toward new college chapters, suggesting a sharp uptick in campus organizing.
Prior to Kirk’s death, TPUSA already claimed around 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters as part of its national footprint.
The surge in inquiries is being described by TPUSA as a kind of mobilization wave,students citing inspiration, outrage, or a desire to carry forward Kirk’s message on free speech, limited government, and political engagement.
