Lucian Li graduated from Manheim Township High School in 2022. A little more than a year later, Li died from injuries sustained in a car crash with a wrong-way driver. He was 19 years old.
Through his unwavering commitment to kindness, inclusivity and teamwork, Li made such a positive impact on others in his short life that his spirit continues to resonate throughout the communities of Manheim Township High School and Kenyon College.
At Kenyon College, where Li played lacrosse wearing number 25, his teammates honor his memory by performing 25 jumping jacks before every practice and game. The Kenyon men’s lacrosse program also created the Lucian Li Teammate of the Year Award, recognizing the player who best embodies Li's spirit of selflessness and support for others.
At Manheim Township High School, students have created the Live For Lucian Club, which raises money through bake sales and T-shirt sales, and uses those funds to purchase pizzas that are given to winners of a halfcourt shooting contest at home boys and girls basketball games, an effort that connects Li’s past as a basketball player and love for food. Some of the money raised is also used to offset the cost of food purchased for the club meetings. Any of the club’s leftover money is donated to the Live For Lucian Foundation, which was born out of a GoFundMe in the wake of Li’s death. The website is liveforlucian.org.
The foundation has established the Live For Lucian Best Teammate Award, given annually to 31 Manheim Township High School varsity student-athletes selected by their peers for demonstrating the same inclusive and caring qualities that Li exemplified.
Li's legacy demonstrates that true athletic inspiration extends far beyond statistics or championships — it lies in the ability to elevate others and create lasting positive change. His story reminds us that the most inspirational athletes are those who use their platform not for personal glory, but to make their teammates, schools, and communities better places for everyone.