Hillsdale College awarded honorary degrees in public service to the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and his wife, Erika Kirk, during its commencement ceremony on Saturday, with Erika delivering the commencement address.

Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn spoke at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service last September. At that time, he announced that Charlie and Erika Kirk would receive honorary degrees during the college’s spring commencement.

The honorary degrees were presented at the college’s commencement held at the Biermann Center in Hillsdale. During her speech, Erika commented on her late husband’s dedication and his connection to the college, even when the two were on their honeymoon.

“He was like, ‘I know, I’m almost done, I have to finish just a few more lectures from Dr. Arnn. I have a few more certificates I have to get for my online courses at Hillsdale, we’re almost there; I can’t skip them,’ I said baby, you do what you got to do, I’m here for it,” Erika said.

In her address, Erika also encouraged graduates to marry young, maintain strong friendships, and love the country.

“To the men, you are called to provide, you are called to lead, to anchor your families in strength and consistency,” Erika said. “To the women, you are called to nurture, to build, to shape lives with wisdom and endurance.”

“The world we are entering will not always affirm what you know to be true. In many ways, it will challenge it. It will distort it. And at times it will oppose it. It’s good,” she continued. “Please know this, your responsibility is not to reflect the world… If you want to make a difference in the world, it is very hard to do that when you look just like it.”

In response to her presence at the event, protesters gathered ahead of the ceremony. A group called Hope in Action said it was demonstrating because Turning Point USA is a “national right-wing political machine organizing young people into MAGA politics, anti-trans rhetoric, anti-DEI backlash, and culture-war extremism.”