Students’ work on a replica lantern room for the Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey State Park has the state’s attention.

Washington’s Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation named the replica team of Oak Harbor, Coupeville and South Whidbey high school metal shop students recipients of the outstanding achievement in preservation education award. Island County’s WSU extension and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders were also named in the award.

Metal working classes from each high school worked on different sections of the lantern room from 2010 until it was completed in February 2012. South Whidbey had the tub or base, Coupeville had the roof and Oak Harbor fabricated the middle section’s window mullions.

Archie Nichols of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders and Seaport Steel contributed tools, materials and services to the project. Other funding came from the Washington License Plate Grant program provided through the nonprofit Lighthouse Environmental Programs in Coupeville. Island Crane Services of Freeland provided the crane that lifted the completed lantern into place atop the lighthouse.

The awards program, in its 23rd year, recognizes persons, organizations and projects that have achieved distinction in the field of historic preservation. Each year, the awards are presented to the recipients by Washington State Historic Preservation Officer Dr. Allyson Brooks at a ceremony held during the annual National Historic Preservation Month celebration in May.