The day I found out I was selected as a recipient of the 2026 Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarship I couldn’t wait to tell my parents. I didn’t tell them I was applying for this scholarship because I knew it was selective and honestly didn’t want to get my nor their hopes up. But, in the chance I was chosen, I thought a surprise would be the best way to share the news. I got to see this come to life the day I was selected and got to share with my family. It truly is such an honor to be able to represent this foundation and everything it stands for, and such a blessing to be a recipient of this scholarship.
This scholarship was just one example of blessings I have witnessed this year after finishing up my freshman year at the University of Georgia. I was able to find a campus ministry called Cru at UGA that I love, and get to have such Godly and intentional friendships with. In this upcoming school year I get to serve on their leadership teams in hopes of making a difference on campus, and I couldn’t be more excited. I have found a church in Athens to plug into and stay connected through. There I get to attend a weekly Bible study at the homes of two families from the church, and have gotten to be poured into by such intentional and selfless people. I became involved in club sports and intramural sports at UGA, and made very sweet memories through that. Even as I am writing this, I am on my study abroad trip in Seville, Spain, and am surrounded by amazing people and an amazing culture. Opportunities like this would not be possible without the support of scholarships. Scholarships like the Prepared For Life Scholarship help to ease the financial burden that comes from college, and allow me to participate in all the extras that make this time of life so fun, and for that I am extremely grateful!
I was first able to hear of the Lutzie 43 Foundation from a summit my sophomore year of high school in 2023 at Lanier Technical College, and then again when Mr. Mike returned to my high school, Cherokee Bluff, for an additional summit. That first time was not only educational, but extremely moving, and nothing changed the second. Hearing Mr. Mike talking about Philip brought me to tears both times. I couldn’t begin to imagine the feeling of losing a loved one in a car accident. Philip’s story resonated with me greatly as the sister of a college baseball player, and also simply as a new driver. I had only a driving permit when I attended the summit, and was still very impressionable when it came to driving. Being able to understand that safe driving is a choice, and it is one we all need to choose to make, is something that I hope to carry with me to my friends and family, but also on my college campus.
This past year, a member of Cru, the campus ministry I attend at UGA, lost his life in a distracted driving accident. His story reminds me a lot of Philip’s. No one had a negative word to say about him; his character is what is shown through him each and every day. I only had the opportunity to meet him briefly this past year, but his love for Jesus was so evident, and brought so many others to Christ as well. He wasn’t driving impaired, or on his phone, but a small distraction ended in the loss of life. One of the hardest parts of grief was wondering all of the “what ifs” that could have prevented the accident. Realizing that we don’t get those short seconds back is what drew me back to The Lutzie 43 Foundation. But, even in all the hurt and heartache, it has made me more driven to be a part of the change. A lot of these fatal accidents that have become a statistic could have been prevented. So being a representative and carrying the image of the Lutzie 43 Foundation is something that I don’t take lightly, and is something that I carry into my community as well.
The biggest lesson I learned from both summits and the Safeguarding Your Legacy Curriculum was that it only takes seconds to make sure you are ready to drive, and those 43 seconds it does take are life changing. “Clear Head, Clear Hands, Clear Eyes, and Click It” should become non-negotiables for every driver. After my first summit I received a key with the 43 Key Seconds reminder, and every time I see it I know the impact those seconds truly make.
This scholarship means the world to me. It helps greatly with the financial troubles that come with college, but more than that I get to serve as an ambassador for an incredible organization against something that has impacted me and so many others. Thank you to the Lutzie 43 Foundation for allowing me to be a part of the change. I hope to represent your organization well in all that I do.