I am so incredibly blessed to have been awarded the 2022 Prepared for Life Scholarship. I would like to give a big thanks to the Lutzie 43 Foundation for their generous financial support. This funding will allow me to further my education at Auburn University to pursue a career as a Nurse Practitioner. 

I was raised in an “Auburn family”, so the news of Philip Lutzenkirchen’s passing in 2014 brought great sadness and shock. A few years later, I was blessed to have been able to hear Philip’s father, Mike Lutzenkirchen, speak at a local assembly. I will never forget how candid and serious Mr. Lutzenkirchen was about the events that led to his son’s passing. His speech made me realize that unsafe driving was a bigger issue than I thought and I needed to be a part of making a change. That day, I signed the 43 Key Seconds Safe Driving Pledge. 

I connected to Philip’s story through his relationship with his sisters. I remember watching “The Story of Philip Lutzenkirchen” video during the assembly and seeing how vividly upset both of his sisters were. My brother and I are very close and I can’t imagine losing him. I signed the pledge to hold myself and others accountable so that my family and any other family does not have to go through the pain the Lutzenkirchen family went through.

I will take responsibility of my actions and be an advocate for safe driving in my community and with my classmates at Auburn University. War Eagle!