FCCLA National Staff Member Selected for Prestigious White House Christmas Decorating Team

HERNDON, Va. (November 2025) — Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) proudly announces that Abigail Lee, FCCLA’s Development and Communications Director, has been selected to serve on the 2025 White House Christmas Decorating Team.

Originally from Hathaway, Louisiana, Lee is one of approximately 300 volunteers chosen from thousands of applicants nationwide to help transform the White House into a holiday showcase. The volunteers will spend a week in Washington, D.C., working alongside professional designers, florists, and White House staff to bring the First Family’s holiday vision to life.

Each year, the White House Social Office organizes the prestigious program, inviting individuals from across the country to assist in decorating the White House. The process is highly competitive, with thousands applying for a limited number of spots. Participants are selected for their creativity, attention to detail, and spirit of service. Their work culminates in the official unveiling of the White House Christmas decorations, a tradition that welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each season.

Lee’s connection to FCCLA and Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) began long before her professional career. A proud alumna of the Hathaway High School FCCLA Chapter in Hathaway, Louisiana, she discovered her passion for leadership, communication, and community service as a student member. Through FCCLA, she gained real-world experience and the confidence to pursue a career centered on empowering others to lead and serve.

“FCCLA truly laid the foundation for my professional journey,” Lee said. “As a member of FCCLA, I gained essential skills in communication, collaboration, and strategic thinking that continue to guide my work every day. Those experiences taught me how to approach challenges with creativity and confidence. Being selected to serve on the White House decorating team is an incredible honor, and I am proud to represent FCCLA through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Lee joined FCCLA’s National Headquarters staff in 2019 and currently serves as the organization’s Development and Communications Director. In this role, she oversees national communications, public relations, and strategic partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for more than 250,000 student members and 7,200 educators across the country. This opportunity also highlights one of the many career connections supported through Family and Consumer Sciences education and FCCLA, including interior design, event planning, and creative arts.

FCCLA Chief Executive Officer Sandy Spavone expressed her pride in Lee’s accomplishment and the significance of this honor. “Abigail’s selection is a wonderful reflection of the leadership, creativity, and dedication that FCCLA fosters in both students and professionals,” said Spavone. “Her journey from an FCCLA Member to serving on our national staff demonstrates the lifelong impact of Family and Consumer Sciences education. We are incredibly proud to see her represent FCCLA through this extraordinary opportunity to contribute to a cherished national tradition.”

Lee said she is eager to bring this experience back to her work at FCCLA. “When students are engaged in FCCLA and Family and Consumer Sciences, they gain the confidence and skills to lead, create, and pursue opportunities they may have never imagined,” she said. “This experience is a reminder of how those same skills, like communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, can take you anywhere. I hope it encourages students to see the value of what they are learning in their classrooms and to dream beyond what feels familiar. The lessons that begin in FCCLA can truly open doors to careers, experiences, and places they may have never thought of or even believed were possible.”

The 2025 White House Christmas decorations will be unveiled following Thanksgiving, marking the start of the holiday season in the nation’s capital.