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CITY, N.D. – (NewsDakota.com) Ornaments by local North Dakota artists will dazzle President’s Park in Washington, D.C. as part of the 94th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting display.
Twelve Valley City High School advanced art students designed ornaments that showcase a glittery snowball globe looking into the window of North Dakota. The hand crafted ornaments will adorn one of 56 trees representing each U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia from December 1, 2016 through January 1, 2017 as part of the America Celebrates display.
“It is an honor to have our students decorate our home state tree and help the nation celebrate the holidays in one of our most recognizable national parks,” said art instructor Kelly Callahan. “Our students are very excited to be a part of the America Celebrates display because it is an everlasting memory to be a part of our nation’s history.”
The following 12 students painted pictures inside their ornaments, depicting North Dakota during the holiday season: Devin Anderson, DJ Elstrom, Tanaya Leifson, Mikey Meester, Lance Apalacio, Rachel Borg, Katie Clark, Jasmine Smith, Chase Sundlie, Breanna McDonald, Miranda Wittenberg and Ashton Schonert from Valley City designed ornaments that showcase a glittery snowball globe looking into the window of North Dakota.
Presented by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation, the National Christmas Tree Lighting is one of America’s oldest holiday traditions. The first National Christmas Tree lighting took place 94 years ago on Christmas Eve in 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the Ellipse. Since 1923, each succeeding president has carried on the tradition.
For more event information and updates, please visit www.thenationaltree.org and follow the National Christmas Tree on Twitter at @TheNationalTree. Join the conversation online using the hashtag #NCTL2016. Through a partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, the Hallmark Channel will exclusively broadcast the National Christmas Tree Lighting on December 5.
- Mikey Meester ornament.
- Chase Sundlie ornament.
