Being named a recipient of the Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarship for me was not just about filling out another scholarship application in hopes of receiving financial aid for college, but it served as a testament to the importance of advocating for safe driving in our communities in order to change one life at a time. I am deeply appreciative and grateful to have become a safe driving ambassador for the Lutzie 43 Foundation and to have received this distinguished scholarship. I am truly grateful to know that I will be alongside many other deserving recipients who are committed to being advocates for safe driving in their communities and ambassadors for an organization that has already impacted thousands of lives through its mission.
I first heard about the story of Philip Lutzenkirchen through a work-based learning project within my Fundamentals of Speech course during my freshman year at Brenau University with my then professor, Dr. Deeb. As speech students, we were tasked with developing an informational speech about a topic of our choosing with our preferred project partners. For my speech, I chose to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and how that posed a risk to our generation, but it wasn’t until I first heard about the PFL Scholarship and began to complete the required curriculum that the weight of Philip’s story really set in for me.
Even though his story showed me the dangers of distracted driving and how a moment of poor judgment can turn into a personal tragedy, through learning more about who he was before his final moments, what really stood out to me about Philip was not that he was widely known as an Auburn football player, but the person that he was off the field.
I was able to learn through the Lutzie 43 Foundation and people like Lars Anderson that he took a girl with Down Syndrome to her senior prom at Lassiter High School and introduced Evan Thompson to his teammates thirteen days before cancer took his life. It was the selfless character that he exuded off the field, by living a life of stewardship and loving others, and his commitment to serving his community that really inspired me.
During this application process, one of the character traits in the Safeguarding Your Legacy curriculum that made an impression on me, when learning more about Phillip’s story, was courage. Courage in this course was defined as strength in the face of pain or grief. It really took courage for me to begin my second year at Brenau University with a newly diagnosed neurological condition. Almost a year ago, I was dealing with symptoms that made physical mobility and the enjoyment of daily activities almost impossible. I resorted to isolating myself from my family, friends, and even professional colleagues within my university to mask what I was experiencing at the time.
Once, I was diagnosed with vestibular migraines; much of my life changed, and even though I was uncertain of my future at the time, I chose to move forward in the face of the unknown. I didn’t want to let this diagnosis stop me from experiencing my life to the fullest.
From there, going into my sophomore year at Brenau University, I decided to take on various academic opportunities in spite of the challenges I had faced in the past. I’ve had the opportunity to serve as a student representative for the Management and Leadership Open House, where my peers and I engaged prospective students by providing personal insights on student experiences, campus life, and academic programs within the newly named Jacobs College of Business and Media at Brenau University.
While also becoming more involved on campus through participating in different student-led organizations, such as the International Club and the College of Business and Communications club, one of the most impactful experiences during my time was getting the opportunity to participate in Game Day operations within the Jacobs College of Business and Media.
Game Day Operations events are organized by the Dean of our department at Brenau University, Dr. Shatrella Washington Hubbard, within the Jacobs College of Business and Media. This experience allows students the opportunity to tour a professional sports organization, learn about the various career opportunities available within these organizations as they pertain to business or communications, and participate in the operations of game days as student volunteers.
Most recently, I’ve had the opportunity to serve as a student volunteer for the Athens Rock Lobsters, one of Athens first professional hockey teams, and experience what it’s like to work as Game Day staff in a professional sports environment. As a university, we had the opportunity to volunteer during their “Stick it to Cancer” theme night. Seeing the joy on the fans’ faces when doing something as simple as handing out T-shirts or hockey pucks as they entered the game was unmatched and reminded me of the importance of serving others with a selfless spirit.
It was this selfless spirit that led to the creation of the Lutzie 43 Foundation, which empowers teens and young adults with safe driving education and makes it its mission to end distracted, impaired, and unsafe driving. The legacy and life of Philip Lutzenkirchen taught me that every decision you make matters, but that the legacy you leave behind has the power to change lives. I feel truly blessed to serve as an ambassador for the Lutzie 43 Foundation and to be an advocate for safe driving. I’m deeply appreciative to be a part of the 2026 scholarship class, and I strive to advocate for the 43 Key Seconds safe driving initiative by raising awareness about the importance of safe driving in our communities and encouraging others to maintain a clear head, clear hands, and clear eyes before getting behind the wheel.