SUGAR GROVE – At its December board of trustees meeting, Waubonsee Community College, along with the National Safety Council, honored Judge F. Keith Brown for his work in keeping young drivers safe.

During Brown's three-year term as chief judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit, which ended last month, he increased the number of young drivers mandated to attend the "Alive at 25" defensive driving course for minor traffic violations by expanding the age range to include drivers under the age of 20. He also added a provision to the Driver Safety Agreement that included the 16th Judicial Circuit Court in the promotion or sponsorship of "Alive at 25" driver safety courses at area high schools. The 16th Judicial Circuit includes Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties. With a curriculum designed by the National Safety Council, the four-hour "Alive at 25" course addresses the specific factors found to contribute to collisions among young adults, including inexperience with the complexities of driving, lack of awareness and more.

"Judge Brown has been a great champion of the Alive at 25 program," said Lesa Norris, Waubonsee's Dean for workforce development, in a news release. "He saw it as great way for the court and the college to work together."