My name is Lindsey Cook, and I am honored to be a recipient of the 2021 Prepared For Life Scholarship. I would like to thank the Lutzie 43 Foundation for selecting me for this opportunity to share Philip Lutzenkirchen’s Legacy, as well as the opportunity to further my academic career at Auburn University. I am so excited to use this platform to reach out to others in my community and encourage the importance of having good character and driving sober. 

I was raised as an Auburn fan through and through, as both of my parents graduated from Auburn University. During the 2010 football season, I remember being so excited watching Auburn bring home a national championship. As a sophomore in high school, I heard that the father of an Auburn football player was coming to speak at my school, and needless to say, I was ecstatic. 

Little did I know how much of an impact this speech would have on me. Philip’s father, Mr. Mike Lutzenkirchen, told Philip’s story with heavy emotion and made me feel a sliver of what his family felt on the day they found out Philip passed away. I had never heard of Philip Lutzenkirchen, but on this day he became a role model to me. 

Philip was a hardworking, talented athlete and was a key player for the Auburn football team during one of their best seasons, yet this is still not what stood out to me the most about Philip. The most significant thing that Philip is remembered for was his outstanding character, which made him a leader to his teammates and peers. Philip impacted others by simply being welcoming and kind to everyone he met. He is remembered for being a good teammate on and off the field. He was a leader on the team because he had the integrity to do the right thing. Philip’s life may have passed, but his legacy lives on because of the choices he made to live life to the fullest. 

Although Philip did everything he could to be a good person in the world, his life was taken because of a mistake he made of getting in a car with someone under the influence. The common phrase “Don’t Drink and Drive!” never fully resonated with me until hearing Philip’s story, because if someone with such a profound impact on his community could be taken because of drunk driving, my life easily could too. 

Philip’s life touched so many others when he was alive that he still teaches people although he is physically gone. Numerous noteworthy coaches at Auburn from various sports and his former teammates will speak to how Philip has left an indelible mark on their lives, and that accomplishment speaks volumes to who Philip really was. He inspires me every day to be a better leader on my softball and basketball teams, a hardworking student in my school and a more active community member. Philip’s life was taken due to drunk driving, but we must make his legacy live on to teach other young people the dangers of driving under the influence and for them to see how important it is to be a light to others in daily acts of kindness and generosity. 

I am so thankful for the life lessons Philip Lutzenkirchen has taught me and for the Lutzie 43 Foundation for continuing to share his legacy. I am grateful to be a part of the Lutzie 43 Foundation by receiving the 2021 Prepared For Life Scholarship and I look forward to being involved with this organization. I am committed to bringing awareness to Philip Lutzenkirchen’s legacy. War Eagle!