Turning Point USA
Discover Perspectives. Explore Ideas. Join the Dialogue.
Your place to discuss and learn about the importance of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and free speech.
The Northwood University chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) serves as a platform for students who wish to engage in discussion about free markets, individual liberty, economic policy, and the principles of limited government with freedom.
Through regular meetings, speaker events, and campus forums, the organization provides a space for open dialogue about political, social, and economic ideas. It empowers students to form informed opinions and participate in civic life with integrity. TPUSA at Northwood offers an accessible forum to explore ideas, ask tough questions, and engage with peers who share diverse viewpoints.
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Membership in TPUSA is open to all students, regardless of prior experience. Our club unapologetically advocates for the importance of limited government and economic freedom. We believe:
- Free Markets Matter
- Socialism Sucks
- America Needs Us
Collin Ridgway
Turning Point Chapter President
Collin Ridgway, a student from Flint, was named Chapter President by part of a group of students who rechartered Northwood University’s Turning Point USA Chapter in December 2024 at AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona.
Responsibilities
- Preside over meetings
- Coordinate all activities within the chapter
- Act as a Liaison between the chapter and outside entities
- Attend University functions which require a club representative
- Work with other officers to determine the overall direction of the club
- Report to the national organization
- Appoint members to officer positions in the event of resignation or removal before the next election cycle
In addition to his role as Northwood’s Turning Point USA Chapter President, Collin served as an 8th District Delegate at the 2025 Michigan Republican Party Convention Delegate:
“As the youngest member of the 8th District, I am constantly reminded of the impact young people have and how important it is for Gen Z to have a seat at the table,” Collin reflects.
Collin also hosts the Focus on FRESH AIR and Free Enterprise segment for Northwood’s student-run video podcast, “Keeping Up with the Pack.” He is integral to hosting campus tours as a student employee in Northwood’s Admissions Office. Collin can be reached over email.
Kate Hessling
Turning Point USA Advisor
Kate Hessling, who was named Northwood’s Turning Point USA Advisor in March 2024, was instrumental in Northwood’s first-ever AmericaFest delegation. The Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations for Northwood University, Kate is passionate about the powerful role individual freedom and free enterprise play in increasing our quality of life.
Channeling the great Dr. V. Orval Watts, known as the Godfather of The Northwood Idea, Northwood’s guiding philosophy, Hessling believes The Northwood Idea is the recipe for personal and professional success, particularly because of its appreciation of the unlimited opportunities for character development in voluntary business enterprise.
“Only those who look for business profits in life-supporting efforts that are mutually beneficial can achieve success in the true meaning of the word,” Dr. Watts wrote. “This objective may be the most distinctive feature of The Northwood Idea—the view that our graduates should look on business not merely as an easier way to attain ease and affluence but also as an opportunity for utilizing their highest human qualities and attaining lasting satisfaction in a life well spent.”
In all things, Hessling works to advance Northwood’s mission of creating free enterprise leaders who drive global economic and social progress. She can be reached by email.
Turning Point USA
