News Release

Students get creative for the 100th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

State trees decorated with handmade ornaments from the 2021 America Celebrates ornament program.
America Celebrates trees in 2021. Ornaments designed by students from each state, territory, and more, adorned small trees around the National Christmas Tree.

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News Release Date: November 14, 2022

Contact: Chelsea Sullivan, 202-297-2659

Contact: Department of Education, 202-401-1576

WASHINGTON—From state flowers to notable landmarks, American students have designed one-of-a-kind ornaments to celebrate the places they call home. These ornaments will adorn 58 smaller trees that surround the National Christmas Tree. The trees represent states, territories, and schools managed by the Bureau of Indian Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity.  

The America Celebrates ornament program is an annual collaboration of the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Education and the National Park Foundation (NPF). Each federal partner worked within their organizations to facilitate the identification of elementary, middle and high schools to participate in the America Celebrates program. The project is funded by the NPF.   

The National Christmas Tree Lighting has strong ties to education.  

  • In 1923, a letter arrived at the White House from the District of Columbia Public Schools proposing that a decorated Christmas tree be placed on the South Lawn of the White House. On Christmas Eve that year, President Calvin Coolidge walked from the Oval Office to the Ellipse and pushed a button that lit the first National Christmas Tree.  

  • During World War II, wartime restrictions meant no new ornaments were purchased for the National Christmas Tree in 1942. Washington, D.C students donated ornaments that would supplement the use of reused ornaments from previous years. 

  • This year, more than 2,600 students participated in the America Celebrates ornament program! The students, ages 4 to 19-years-old, learned about the places they call home. From history and ecological wonders, to exploring different mediums of art, these students’ ornaments are a must-see this holiday. 

Since 1973, the National Christmas Tree has been a living tree which can be viewed year-round in President’s Park – one of America’s 423 national parks!  

The America Celebrates display is one of the highlights of the National Christmas Tree experience. You’re invited to view the National Christmas Tree and the 58 trees’ ornaments up close from Dec. 2 through Jan. 1, 2023. Can’t make in in person? Check out the President’s Park Facebook page for photos of the ornaments!   

In partnership with NPF, CBS will broadcast the 2022 ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 11 (8 – 9 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The National Christmas Tree Lighting will also be available for the public to view at CBS.com beginning Dec. 12. 

Stay tuned to learn more about this year’s event! For more event information and updates, please visit www.thenationaltree.org and follow President’s Park on Facebook or Twitter.  

58 schools designed ornaments for the 2022 National Christmas Tree display in President’s Park:  

Location 

School Name (Town) 

Alabama  

Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies (Mobile) 

Alaska  

Effie Kokrine Charter School (Fairbanks) 

American Samoa  

Nu'uuli Vocational Technical High School (Pago Pago) 

Arizona  

San Luis High School (San Luis) 

Arkansas  

Little Rock West High School of Innovation (Little Rock) 

California  

Nueva Vista Language Academy (Delano) 

Colorado  

Infinity Middle School (Aurora) 

Connecticut  

O'Connell Elementary School (East Hartford) 

Delaware  

North Dover Elementary School (Dover) 

District of Columbia  

Friendship Public Charter School Blow Pierce Academy 

Florida  

Tohopekaliga High School (Kissimmee) 

Georgia  

Heritage High School (Conyers) 

Guam  

iLearn Academy Charter School (Dededo) 

Hawaii  

James Campbell High School (Ewa Beach) 

Idaho  

Christine Donnell School of the Arts (Boise) 

Illinois  

Oregon Junior/Senior High School (Oregon) 

Indiana  

Union Elementary School (Zionsville) 

Iowa  

Eagle Grove Elementary (Eagle Grove) 

Kansas  

Leawood Middle School (Leawood) 

Kentucky  

Owensboro Innovation Academy (Owensboro) 

Louisiana  

Harry Hurst Middle School (Destrehan) 

Maine  

Robert Connors Elementary School (Lewiston) 

Maryland  

Calvert High School (Prince Frederick) 

Massachusetts  

Falmouth Academy (Falmouth) 

Michigan  

Hanover-Horton Elementary School (Hanover) 

Minnesota  

Clover Ridge Elementary School (Chaska) 

Mississippi  

Madison Middle School (Madison) 

Missouri  

Sullivan High School (Sullivan) 

Montana  

Hyalite Elementary School (Bozeman) 

Nebraska  

Bennington South Middle School (Bennington) 

Nevada  

Garside Junior High School (Las Vegas) 

New Hampshire  

Arts Academy of New Hampshire (Salem) 

New Jersey  

Leeds Avenue Elementary School (Pleasantville) 

New Mexico  

Bernalillo Elementary School (Bernalillo) 

New York  

Maplewood Intermediate School (Huntington Station) 

North Carolina  

Greene Central High School (Snow Hill) 

North Dakota  

Valley City Jr. Sr. High School (Valley City) 

Northern Mariana Islands  

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System 

Ohio  

Lakota Central (West Chester) 

Oklahoma  

Jenks Middle School (Tulsa) 

Oregon  

Oregon School for the Deaf (Salem) 

Pennsylvania  

Kutztown Area High School (Kutztown) 

Puerto Rico  

Escuela Especializada de Educacion Bilingue (Cidra) 

Rhode Island  

Young Woods Elementary School (Providence) 

South Carolina  

Saluda High School (Saluda) 

South Dakota  

Stanley County Elementary School (Fort Pierre) 

Tennessee  

Arlington High School (Arlington) 

Texas  

Del Valle High School (El Paso) 

U.S. Virgin Islands  

St. Croix Educational Complex (Christiansted) 

Utah  

Helen M. Knight Elementary School (Moab) 

Vermont  

Wallingford Elementary School (Wallingford) 

Virginia  

Falmouth Elementary School (Falmouth) 

Washington  

Lummi Nation School (Bellingham) 

West Virginia  

Robert L. Bland Middle School (Weston) 

Wisconsin  

Jackson Elementary School (Janesville) 

Wyoming  

Beitel Elementary School (Laramie) 

Bureau of Indian Education  

Taos Day School (N.M.) 

Riverside Indian School (Oka.) 

Department of Defense Education Activity  

Brussels Elementary High School (Belgium) 

Bechtel Elementary School (Japan) 

Fort Campbell High School (KY) 

 

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. The National Park Service has cared for the White House and its grounds since 1933. President’s Park, which includes the Ellipse and Lafayette Park, was officially included in the national park system in 1961. Visit us at: www.nps.gov, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter: www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube: www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.  

ABOUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

The original Department of Education was created in 1867 to collect information on schools and teaching that would help states establish effective school systems. In 1980, Congress established the U.S. Department of Education as a Cabinet-level agency. While the agency’s name and location within the Executive Branch have changed over the past 150 years, this early emphasis on getting information on what works in education to teachers and education policymakers continues to the present day. Today, the Department operates programs that touch on every area and level of education. Its elementary and secondary programs annually serve over 18,000 school districts and more than 55 million students attending nearly 100,000 public schools and approximately 35,000 private schools. Department programs also provide grant, loan, and work-study assistance to about 16 million postsecondary students. 

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION   

The National Park Foundation works to protect wildlife and park lands, preserve history and culture, educate and engage youth, and connect people everywhere to the wonder of parks. We do it in collaboration with the National Park Service, the park partner community, and with the generous support of donors, without whom our work would not be possible. Learn more at nationalparks.org. 



A Christmas tree ornament design featuring three mockingbirds singing, while perched in a Christmas tree with lights and ornaments.
An ornament design from a student at Arlington High School in Arlington, Tennessee, featuring three mockingbirds singing, while perched in a Christmas tree with lights and ornaments.

Arlington High School in Arlington, Tennessee

A Christmas tree ornament depicting a tropical coastline surrounded by lush flora. In the water there are people riding in two canoes and there are several houses situated on the land.
An ornament designed by a student at Nu'uuli Vocational Technical High School in Pago Pago, American Samoa, depicting a tropical coastline surrounded by lush flora. In the water there are people riding in two canoes and there are several houses situated on the land.

Nu'uuli Vocational Technical High School in Pago Pago, American Samoa

A Christmas tree ornament design featuring the geographic shape of Massachusetts with purple mountains in the western portion, surrounded by flowers, and a rainbow highlight.
An ornament design from a student at Falmouth Academy in Falmouth, Massachusetts, featuring the geographic shape of Massachusetts with purple mountains in the western portion, surrounded by flowers, and a rainbow highlight in the background.

Falmouth Academy in Falmouth, Massachusetts

Last updated: November 14, 2022

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