For Katie Holley, an Orcas Island High School senior, spreading awareness about the effects of driving under the influence is a personal project.

In 2011, Holley experienced a tragic loss when a family member was struck by a driver under the influence. It inspired her to get involved in community awareness and to devote her senior project to this grim subject.

“My baby brother is getting his license soon,” Holley said, explaining another part of her inspiration. “If he doesn’t listen to anything else I tell him, I hope he listens to this.”

Holley presented part of her senior project on May 15 to the high school students. The demonstration included a mock car crash, put on with help from students, community volunteers, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, Orcas Towing, San Juan County Sheriff’s Department and AirLift Northwest.

Set on the trail between the high school and Buck Park, two vehicles were placed in the positions of a head-on collision. Onlookers and students “riding” in the vehicles were taken through the process of being attended to by the EMT crew, to a court hearing and even a funeral.

Her presentation was a serious matter that Holley hopes can prevent future tragedy by spreading awareness.

Her project was one of many for the graduating class.

Two Orcas students devoted their senior projects to an island tradition.

The old barn on Orcas Road has been painted by graduating classes for decades. Now in serious danger of collapsing, senior Aidan Anderson spearheaded construction of a new structure.

“Tearing it down is the end of an era,” Anderson said. “Since the fate of the old barn is sealed, the only real way to keep this tradition is to build a new one.”

Eric Lum, in partnership with land owners Rick and Marlace Hughes, designed and built a new and improved senior barn. Anderson and a crew of builders have assisted in the construction. The structure will have feeding troughs inside for sheep and hay in the loft, but future senior classes will still be able to paint its walls.

Anderson asked for donations to help pay for the construction. Those who gave $25 or more received a T-shirt that says “I saved the barn” in Viking blue.

Senior Lindsay Lancaster collected photos of the barn from years past and each image will be framed and permanently on display at the school.

“I want to commemorate the old barn for all the past seniors who have painted it,” Lancaster said. “I think it will be great for all these photos to be in one place where everyone can look at them and remember back to when they painted it perhaps.”

Other student projects ranged from creating art to working with kids.

Sebastian Paige made an Asian-themed scroll, Zack Tillman created a mural for the Orcas Landing and Eric Eagan worked on a display for the museum.

Wayne Foster put an engine in a Honda. Stephanie Kern volunteered at Orcas Montessori, and Bella Nigretto worked at Kaleidoscope Preschool and Childcare Center.

Sky Bear Aguilar made a film, and Matthew Bowen created a comic that will appear in the school yearbook.

Alex Rogers learned karate and Carra Bowes took self defense classes.

Brigid Ehrmantraut composed a program based on “Hamlet” and rehearsed and performed with Island Sinfonia. Zack Kostechko volunteered at fire and rescue and Joe Kostechko learned to drive a tender 22 at the fire station.

Denis Riordan prepared a meal of non-GMO, organic and local ingredients and Chris Babcock made a hot air balloon.

Jack Gates worked with a falconer, Shelbi Rogers led a three-on-three basketball tournament, and Jack Russillo wrote sports stories for the Islands’ Sounder.

Emily Jackson learned oil spill clean-up techniques, which she taught to an elementary class. Maya Burt-Kidwell organized a dance workshop and Caleb Dean built a cob oven.

In the OASIS program, senior Stephanie Kern observed kids at the Montessori Pre-School and focused on how children learn to communicate.

Melissa Price plans to explore welding as a career, so she worked with Pete Welty to create a spider art piece that used scissors.

Angel McEachran read to elderly residents at the Life Care Center in Friday Harbor.

“She wanted to reach out to the people there and help them feel connected to the community,” said OASIS teacher Jill Sherman. “They enjoyed listening to stories and visiting with her.”

Freelance writer Erinn Nelson contributed to this story.