Published on: September 5th, 2025

Dean of Graduate School of Government Speaks at the NRA’s Youth Education Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Matthew Spalding, Dean of Hillsdale’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government in Washington, D.C., spoke to more than 30 high schoolers at the NRA’s Youth Education Summit on July 24th.

Spalding spoke to the group on the steps of the Capitol for about an hour. He discussed the architecture of the buildings as well as the American founding — in particular the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and the principled sources of our rights.

“America’s founding principles are articulated in the Declaration, embodied in the Constitution, and even reflected in the architecture of the Capitol,” Spalding said. “It was an honor to help these bright young Americans understand these principles more deeply.”

Y.E.S. is an annual weeklong competitive fellowship hosted by the NRA. Through the program, high school students come to D.C., visit important sites, engage in debates and discussions, and learn about government and the Constitution, while competing for up to $40,000 in scholarships.

Matthew Spalding is the Kirby Professor in Constitutional Government at Hillsdale College; the Dean of the College’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government in Washington, D.C.; and the College’s Vice President for Washington Operations. He received his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in government from the Claremont Graduate School.

Spalding is the author of several books, including “We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future.” He is also executive editor of The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, a fellow at the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy, and a board member of the Steamboat Institute and the Philadelphia Society.

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About Hillsdale in D.C.

Hillsdale in D.C. is an extension of the teaching mission of Hillsdale College to Washington, D.C. Its purpose is to teach the Constitution and the principles that give it meaning. Through the study of original source documents from American history—and of older books that formed the education of America’s founders—it seeks to inspire students, teachers, citizens, and policymakers to return the America’s principles to their central place in the political life of the nation.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.7 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.