ASCC Press Release
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
ASCC Students Create Ornaments for 2010 National Christmas Tree Lighting
(PRESS RELEASE) Students in Art 160/170 at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) have created unique tree
ornaments representing American Samoa that will be included as part of this year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting
event hosted by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. The National Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on Thursday, December 9, at 5:00 p.m., on the Ellipse in
Washington, D.C.
ASCC Head Artist Regina Meredith said that she was pleased to be called upon for this special project, and commended her
Art 160/170 students for their dedication in producing over a dozen individual ornaments based on a unique design by
Meredith. Each ornament is made up of a clear plastic circle which contains a cube; each of the cube’s six surfaces
features different Polynesian-style art motifs. Meredith and her students added a further dimension by placing a small
battery powered light within each decorated square, which lights up the whole ornament. Each of the ornaments is topped
with a bow of yellow ribbon, in honor of all US military personnel, as well as thin strands of u’a or mulberry to
provide an island touch.
“Each ornament is one of a kind,” said Meredith. “The students in Art 160/170 were thrilled to take part in this
project, knowing that for many of the folks in Washington, D.C., their first awareness our Territory will be based on
these unique works of art.”
This year, the National Park Foundation selected one artist and youth group from each US state, territory and the
District of Columbia to design and create 26 ornaments. Twenty-five of the ornaments will be hung from the state or
territorial tree as part of the National Christmas Tree display on the Ellipse. One of the ornaments will decorate the
White House Visitor Center Christmas tree which showcases each state/territory ornament. “We are delighted to have
Regina Meredith and the Art 160/170 Artists participating in this year’s National Christmas tree display,” said Neil
Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. “This event is a wonderful example of how our national parks connect
us as a nation.”
One of our country’s oldest holiday traditions, the National Christmas Tree Lighting began 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 of what now has become a month-long event presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. In addition to the National Christmas Tree display, the Ellipse hosts a variety of family-oriented holiday
attractions, such as the Santa’s Workshop, nightly holiday performances, a Yule log, nativity scene, and model train
display.
ENDS