In winter 2017, students from Dr. Harvey Lemelin's Outdoor Recreation Research Design course partnered with Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior (CLLS) and Parks Canada to research and provide suggested designs for interpretive signage panels. One group of five students, Rachel DalBello, Stephanie Potter, Julia Bingham Jesse Stewart, and Marty Wood, conducted research and designed a panel for the Porphyry Island Lighthouse, which is part of Lake Superior's National Marine Conservation Area. 

During this project, the students worked with Parks Canada and Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior to identify seven panels with topic and theme statements. Students then conducted research for three of the interpretive panels and designed the panels. Students provided research and panel designs to Parks Canada. 

Parks Canada has thanked the students who worked hard on this project and confirmed that the Porphyry Island Lighthouse Panels are complete and were installed in August 2017. As noted by Parks Canada staff and recent graduate of ORPT Sarah Shruiff, "The research and work that the students did was very valuable and helped to create the panels that were installed today. As much of the original panels were included as possible, however, due to branding standards, and additional research, some changes were made."