My name is Wil Deist, and I am humbled to be a 2021 Prepared for Life Scholarship recipient. To a part of an organization like the Lutzie 43 is a true honor and a responsibility I am willing to uphold for the rest of my life. Signing the pledge to drive distracted and impaired-free is just the start. Spreading the positive message of the Lutzenkirchen family and living by it every day is something I look forward to doing.

I grew up in East Cobb where Philip Lutzenkirchen and his family were well known well before he began making plays on the Auburn football field. To see him go from Lassiter to my dream school, Auburn University made it that much more special for men when I was honored by this scholarship. I went to Pope High School, Philip’s rival high school, and got the privilege of seeing my very own brother line up against Philip on the Lassiter football field. For as much of a force that Philip was on the football field, he was an even bigger force off the field with his positive attitude and loving personality that radiated throughout the community. His positive spirit was infectious.

I came from a family that had to that point, already sent 10+ kids to Auburn University, it’s safe to say that Auburn was more than just a university to me, it was my home away from home. Four years later, I can say becoming an Auburn Tiger, was the best decision I could have made. I will be graduating this August with a degree in business management and will use this opportunity provided by the Lutzie Foundation to further my medical knowledge in paramedic school this fall.

While at Auburn I decided to join the Student Firefighter Program and have been working full time in the fire department ever since while pursuing my degree. During the past few years as a firefighter, I have seen first-hand how imperative it is to drive safely and what it can lead to if you let your guard down even for a second. That is why taking the time, “43 seconds”, to reflect on what it means to drive safely and how it can make all the difference, is a message I connect to. I vow to be an advocate of safe driving and spreading this message.