Every 15 minutes someone dies from an alcohol related car accident.

That is the sobering message Old Rochester Regional counselor Donna Perry wants the senior class to grasp as prom and graduation approach.

This year marks Perry’s eighth doing the “Every 15 Minutes” campaign at ORR.

“It speaks to kids about the choices they make, especially drinking, drugging and driving,” she said.

The two-day program started April 6 with a discussion on drunk driving that allowed students to speak with police officers from Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester.

“We don’t preach ‘don’t drink,’” said Perry. “We know that often is not heard. What we try to do is teach being responsible in your decisions regarding those issues.”

Perry said the “walking dead” portion of the program is one of the most powerful.

Eighteen students were selected before the event to represent victims of drunk driving.

Every 15 minutes a student dressed as the grim reaper dragged one student out of class. For the rest of the day the students walked around as silent specters.

The “walking dead” spent the night at the school and wrote good-bye letters to family and friends. Several of their parents at home did the same.

Senior Katie Holden volunteered to be one of 18 after hearing about the campaign’s impact from former seniors.

“Everyone should have to hear this,” she said.

Although the letters were symbolic, Holden said writing them with her peers made it personal.

“I learned more about them that night than I had in four years,” said Holden. “I had no idea what was really going on in their lives.

At the final assembly, seniors, police officers and parents gathered to hear from the victim of an alcohol related collision.

Perry said the affect of the students and parents reading their letters was incredibly touching.

“You could probably hear a pin drop in there,” said Perry.

The event ended by asking seniors to pledge not to drink and drive. A seat belt pledge was also put up in the cafeteria for students to sign.

"It definitely makes an impact on the students," said Marion police Sergent Marshall Sadeck. "It makes them aware of what drinking and driving can do, and I think that’s the main point."