Christmas ornament designs by a Huntington Station third grade class were selected from thousands to decorate a tree outside the White House.

Students at Maplewood Intermediate School say they're "super happy and super proud" after winning a national competition to grace one of 58 trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.

The children's design beat 4,400 schools to represent New York state at the America Celebrates display.

"It makes it special because this is a one time in a life thing," says third grader Monica Gonzalez

Students drew the state flower, notable landmarks and famous foods to illustrate the place they call home.

Teacher Viviana Polanco says the project expanded the children's creativity and brought them closer together.

"It created a sense of family here in the classroom," Polanco says "Something that we were all striving for."

It took the students about a week to complete the designs.

The children's ornaments will be unveiled at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony this Sunday.