scholarships
PFL (Prepared for Life) Scholarship
The $4,300 PFL Scholarship is awarded annually to students who have demonstrated outstanding character in the areas of service and leadership, showing these characteristics in their decision to serve as positive ambassadors for safe driving to their peers and in their communities.
If selected as a recipient, you will receive $1,300 for your first year and then the remainder of the $4,300 as you continue your undergraduate college education at a rate of $1,000 per year over no more than three additional years.
If the applicant is already enrolled in post-secondary school, a modified distribution plan will be discussed and planned out with the recipient.
PFL Scholarship awards are non-renewable and are for U.S.-based two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical schools only. Award payments will be made upon the evidence of tuition expenses and shall not exceed such expenses for a period of one calendar year. Students seeking degrees through online or distance learning programs exclusively shall not be eligible. Individual online courses are permitted when they are a part of the required curriculum taught in the campus environment and when such courses are only available online or through distance learning.
If selected, the recipient will be asked to support the Lutzie 43 Foundation in several ways over the term of your scholarship.
Scholarship Applicant Criteria
- Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors, or current undergraduate or graduate students enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time accredited program at a two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school located in the United States.
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent) at the time of application.
- Applicants must plan to continue their education in the semester immediately following the distribution of the 2025 PFL Scholarship (unless awarded as a high school junior).
- Applicants that are enrolling in post-secondary university or college must enroll in at least 12 hours per semester. Applicants currently enrolled in post-secondary university or college must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours per semester. Graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours per semester.
Application Requirements:
Applicants must sign the 43 Key Seconds safe driving pledge. (You must apply within two years of signing the safe driving pledge or applicants need to re-sign pledge.)
Applicants must complete the Safeguarding Your Legacy Curriculum. (Completing the curriculum is NOT your scholarship application.)
Applicants must complete an online application including the completion of written and video essay questions, submit a transcript, submit a resume and provide a letter of recommendation from a mentor. Transcripts must be official documents and may be uploaded on the website. Grade reports are not acceptable. Applicants may request their school send the transcript directly to the Lutzie 43 Foundation. Applications and essays are evaluated on the information supplied; therefore, answer all questions as completely as possible. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed by board members and associates of the Lutzie 43 Foundation as deemed appropriate by the foundation. The foundation will not be responsible for returning or disposing of any materials provided by the applicant.
Applicants must complete an online application including the completion of written and video essay questions, submit a transcript, submit a resume and provide a letter of recommendation from a mentor. Transcripts must be official documents and may be uploaded on the website. Grade reports are not acceptable. Applicants may request their school send the transcript directly to the Lutzie 43 Foundation. Applications and essays are evaluated on the information supplied; therefore, answer all questions as completely as possible. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed by board members and associates of the Lutzie 43 Foundation as deemed appropriate by the foundation. The foundation will not be responsible for returning or disposing of any materials provided by the applicant.
Details of the PFL Scholarship
The 2025 PFL Scholarship application period is open and will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 23.
If selected as a recipient of the 2025 $4,300 PFL Scholarship, you will receive $1,300 for your first year. From then, you will receive the remainder of the $4,300 over the remaining years of your undergraduate college education at a rate of $1,000 per year over no more than four years. If the applicant is currently enrolled in secondary school, the distribution of the scholarship will be discussed and planned out with the recipient.
If selected the recipient will be asked to support the Lutzie 43 Foundation in several ways over the remaining term of your scholarship.
The 2025 PFL Scholarship application period will open at 9:00 a.m. EST on Monday, January 20 and will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 23.
If selected as a recipient of the 2025 $4,300 PFL Scholarship, you will receive $1,300 for your first year. From then, you will receive the remainder of the $4,300 over the remaining years of your undergraduate college education at a rate of $1,000 per year over no more than four years. If the applicant is currently enrolled in secondary school, the distribution of the scholarship will be discussed and planned out with the recipient.
If selected the recipient will be asked to support the Lutzie 43 Foundation in several ways over the remaining term of your scholarship.
Payment Requirements for all years:
- Official Transcript from the previous school year (must keep a 3.0 GPA)
- An official copy of your upcoming semester schedule. You can provide this via a pdf attachment or a screenshot within your email.
- Your Student ID Number.
- A specific contact name or department name and a mailing address for us to send the check. The scholarship payment is made directly to your university or college. It is your responsibility to let your university or college aware of the pending scholarship payment
| Expectation | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Have a one-on-on phone call with Lutzie 43 Executive Director, Mike Lutzenkirchen | ||||
| Write a blog post to be shared throughout the year highlighting each winner | ||||
| Send a PFL Scholarship acceptance video (60 seconds) | ||||
| Send in your official headshot and other photos | ||||
| Join a mandatory zoom meeting with all winners from your scholarship class (May) | ||||
| You will be assigned a Lutzie 43 Board member to keep in touch with 2x per year. | ||||
Participate in the annual Lutzie 43 Road Race in-person or virtually (August each year)
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Promote and/or participate in the annual 43 Day Campaign
|
Please email abby@lutzie43.org with any additional questions.
Live
Like Lutz.
Love
Like Lutz.
Learn
From Lutz.
43 Key Seconds Pledge
I pledge to not take part in distracted driving. I pledge to stop and prioritize safety before I start my car. I pledge to not allow devices, emotions, fatigue, drugs or alcohol to endanger my life or the lives of others on the road. I pledge to be a positive ambassador for safe driving. I pledge to encourage my friends, family and community to practice safe driving and to not allow them to drive distracted. Before getting into a car, I pledge to take 43 key seconds to ensure both myself and all others in the vehicle complete the checklist to safe driving.
I pledge in honor and memory of Philip Lutzenkirchen, that his life and legacy will live on to prevent further deaths caused by distracted driving.
- Clear Head
- Clear Hands
- Clear Eyes
- Click It
- Now, turn your key.
Contact
The 2024 PFL Scholarship application period is closed. Complete this form to be the first to know when the 2025 PFL Scholarship Application opens.
