WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today celebrated the start of the Christmas season and the State of Mississippi’s bicentennial by decorating his office Christmas tree with handcrafted, Mississippi-themed ornaments created by students from Gulfport High School in Gulfport, Miss.

“I was blown away by the creativity, skills, and knowledge of Mississippi history demonstrated by the students at Gulfport High School,” Wicker said. “These handcrafted ornaments are a special addition to my D.C. office this Christmas season.  They not only showcase the impressive work of our students but also represent the people, icons, and stories that make our state so unique.” 

Gulfport High School recently built a new high school around a career academy concept. All juniors and seniors belong to one of three career academies: Communication, Arts, and Business; Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM); and Health and Human Services. Students from each of the academic divisions crafted ornaments from laser cut wood and glass and traditional ceramics. Students also used the school’s 3-D printer to produce a custom-designed tree topper with embedded battery-operated lights.

Senator Wicker intends to start a holiday tradition by asking one Mississippi school each year to create unique ornaments for the visitors to his Washington office to enjoy.