This year, Chapman started offering a class called Alert and Alive for new student drivers in order for them to receive their parking permits. 

Mabry College and Career Adviser Renee Pierce and Chapman Drivers Education teacher Kevin Carr are the instructors of this new class. Their goal is to educate students on safe driving techniques and the dangers that come when they step behind the wheel.

This class replaced Alive at 25, which was previously required in order to get your parking permit. 

According to Carr, there are some major differences. 

“The main absolute difference is that (the class) is free,” he said. “Alive at 25 costs and is more of a Zoom class. Our class in person and hear people about personal stories.”

Some of the activities in the class include driving golf carts with drunk goggles, learning what to do when getting pulled over by police and learning personal stories from people who have been affected by unsafe driving. 

Student Owen Walker said that this class was very beneficial for him. 

“When they share their stories and use their emotions with their words, it shows how dangerous (driving) is,” said Walker.

For Pierce, it’s more than just a class.

In 2017 her husband, Jeff, was killed by a distracted driver while biking. Pierce wants students to understand the gravity of their driving decisions.

“It’s like in my situation, that lady made a choice for me to be a single mom, to raise two kids without letting them do anything,” Pierce said.

Chapman students can find out more about the class by talking to Carr.