Sembach Elementary Student Ornaments Selected for Display at National Christmas Tree
SEMBACH, Germany — Students from Sembach Elementary School have been selected to have their artwork displayed alongside the National Christmas Tree in President’s Park in Washington, D.C., as part of the annual National Christmas Tree ornament program.
The student-designed ornaments were created during the previous school year and selected for inclusion in last year’s National Christmas Tree display. This year’s exhibition marks the first time all the ornaments will be featured on the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) tree, allowing the students’ creativity to be shared with visitors from across the nation and around the world.
This beloved holiday tradition, presented by the National Park Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service, features 59 trees representing each U.S. state and territory, the District of Columbia, the Bureau of Indian Education, America 250, and the Department of Defense Education Activity. Each tree is decorated with ornaments designed by K–12 students that celebrate creativity, culture, and community.
Sembach Elementary students’ ornaments reflect imagination, craftsmanship, and pride, highlighting the unique perspectives of DoDEA Europe students living and learning overseas while remaining connected to national traditions.
“This is an incredible honor for our students and a meaningful way to recognize their creativity,” said Andrew Gann, principal of Sembach Elementary School. “Knowing their artwork was selected and is now being displayed at such a historic national event makes this moment special for our school community.”
The National Christmas Tree display will be open to the public from Dec. 6, 2025, through Jan. 1, 2026, and admission is free. Ornaments can also be viewed online at thenationaltree.org/ornaments.
The selection underscores DoDEA Europe’s commitment to providing students with opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, celebrating creativity while strengthening connections between military-connected students and the nation they serve.
