My name is Tanner Griggs, and I was so excited to receive word that I was chosen as one of the Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarship winners this year. I have an older brother who is in college and a younger sister, which means that I have the joy of being in the middle. Shout out to all of you middle children! This scholarship will allow me to continue my education as a Neuroscience major at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. My dreams are to attend medical school one day and to become a Neurologist.
Though I am not attending Auburn University, Philip’s alma matter, Auburn has played a really important role in my life. I was selected in the summer of 2025 to attend the Summer Science Institute at AU, and I spent a week on campus with 15 other students from across Alabama and Georgia, exploring multiple different fields of science through time in the cadaver lab, hands-on experiments, lectures and many other valuable lessons. This is where I first discovered a passion for neuroscience. I’m so thankful to already have this passion and direction heading into college.
It was just three years ago when my older brother, Jackson, also received this same PFL scholarship and was invited to share briefly at the annual golf tournament fundraiser that year. As a freshman in high school then, that was the very first time that I was able to meet every member of the Lutzenkirchen family in person and to hear their incredible testimony about losing their beloved son and brother to an incident of distracted driving. I sat in the audience that night emotionally overwhelmed at the thought of how much of a difference just one life can make in the lives of so many others. We heard from teammates, coaches, head coaches and board members about the mark Philip left on them personally.
As a senior this year at Southside High School, I knew with certainty that I would apply for this scholarship. It represents so much for who I am and who I hope to be. I’ve had a few unexpected things that happened during my senior year which have reminded me about the importance of making your life count the way that Philip did. I am a Varsity Cross Country & Track distance runner, and that has played a really important role in my life the past four years. It only took a recurring sickness during cross country season and a stress fracture of the tibia during track season to unexpectedly prevent the senior year season for which I had hoped. Thankfully, in the application process for PFL, I was reminded about Philip’s tenacity that he had as an athlete when he faced injury. He never stopped cheering on his teammates or working hard at rehab so that he could return to the game and team that he loved. I am humbled that what people remember most about Philip now is not his individual stats or victories on a scoreboard but his character. Character, commitment and the way you serve and love people are lasting investments that I hope I also possess.
A committed guy like Philip usually made the right choices, as evidenced by his success and reputation. He showed so much character throughout his life. He committed his time to children with disabilities. He committed to the practice schedule of being a competitive, collegiate and professional athlete. And Philip was committed to his faith in God, attending and serving in his church and on his campus. But even a committed person is not an infallible person, and the one time his commitment was impaired became so costly.
I myself am also fallible. It is good to be reminded by the Lutzie 43 Foundation, that we can commit ahead of time to setting aside just 43 Key Seconds before we drive to clear our hands, eyes and heads so that we don’t face preventable distractions which could be life altering. I look forward to continuing as an ambassador of this message to my high school friends, at my future campus, and throughout my life. As a runner, trying to rehab back to distance mileage again, I look to Philip’s example. It would also be a pleasure to run or volunteer at the annual Lutzie 43 Road Race. That is a personal goal for which I am striving!
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and also the bottom of my running shoes, for choosing me for this scholarship. It means so much to me to represent the Lutzenkirchen family and the legacy of Philip! I hope to make you all proud