Dexter's Jordan Michelle Sandusky, an interior designer for a construction company out of California, has had her eye on a particular house that she would like to help decorate. That house is the White House.
Sandusky, a 2008 graduate of Dexter High School, has been applying for the White House volunteer Christmas event for the last five or six years. She never heard anything, but this year that all changed. She was one of 125 people chosen out of over 7,000 applicants.
"In the beginning of August, the application appears on the White House website," said Sandusky. "It quickly disappears once a certain number of applicants is reached."
So, while most Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving, Sandusky was part of a select group decorating the White House for Christmas.
The first lady met with the head event coordinator designer in April to start planning how each room would be decorated. The theme the first lady chose this year is American Treasures.
"They came up with her vision and plans for her vision early on in the year,' Sandusky explained. "Then ornaments, décor and everything we needed to bring her vision to life was ordered."
The first two days they were at an off-site warehouse location, where they pulled out ornaments from previous years. They were looking to see if anything could be used this year. Sandusky said the ornaments they went through dated back several presidencies. They unboxed 14,000 red ornaments. The red ornaments were different sizes. This meant they had to be sorted according to size.
Sandusky had a hand in assembling all of the red ball garlands underneath the trees in the grand foyer.
Once on-site Sandusky and the other decorators started assembling everything. She stated everyone probably had a hand in assembling the berry topiaries. The topiaries were assembled off-site and brought to the White House. The berries were placed on them on-site.
"They were so time consuming and tedious," said Sandusky. "All of those berries are individually placed."
The topiaries are covered top to bottom with thousands of berries. Sandusky stated when they finished with the tree or room they were working on that day, they would congregate in the "berry hallway" to jump in and help finish it, because there was so much to do in a short time. In all there were 50 live trees set up and decorated.
"The very last thing to get done was the berry trees," Sandusky said.
During the week the decorating was taking place, there were no public tours. Sandusky was able to see parts of the White House normally off limits to the public. She stated different groups were able to go to the residential area, the Oval Office and the Diplomat Receiving Room to decorate.
Sandusky said there were multiple security check points they had to go through. She stated their ID had to match perfectly to the name on the list. Certain areas, such as the Oval Office or the West Wing they had to be escorted or issued a special badge to enter. Also no cell phones were allowed. She stated that even a cell phone that is turned off can be used as a listening device.
Sandusky was able to completely decorate the Vermeil Room, which was Jacqueline Kennedy's favorite room. Sandusky said the White House holds 1,500 pieces of silver, some of which is displayed in this room.
"It is the most feminine room we decorated," Sandusky said.
The room was decorated with soft blues, pears, ornate ribbons and golds. Sandusky also had a hand in decorating the Diplomat Receiving Room. This is the room the president is seen in when greeting dignitaries, sitting by the fire for photos. The portrait of George Washington hangs in this room.
Though she was not designated a team leader, she became the go-to person for questions in her group, as she was the only designer.
The week was broken up into two groups. Group one would work Monday through Wednesday. Everyone was off Thursday for Thanksgiving. Group two worked Friday through Sunday. Sandusky was one of around 10 people chosen to stay all week. It was predetermined who would work when no one volunteered for a specific group. Once they were chosen to come to the White House they were assigned to their work schedule. Sandusky says she is not sure who dictated the work assignments.
"I wish I did," she said. "I would hug them."
Sandusky said one of the most emotional moments of the week occurred when the bakers brought in the large gingerbread White House. This year the Capitol Building, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial were added to the sculpture. Sandusky said it normally weighs 200 pounds. This year it weighed 500 pounds with the added features. It was brought in on carts as the decorators lined the hall and cheered. Sandusky said the bakers were a little emotional going down the hall. The gingerbread sculpture was also lit with lights.
At the end of the week the first lady hosted a luncheon for the volunteers. Melania Trump addressed the volunteers at the luncheon to thank them for their time and efforts. Sandusky didn't get the opportunity to meet her directly, but was standing about 5 feet from her as she addressed the volunteers. The Marine Band also played during the luncheon.
"It was amazing; everything was lit up and perfectly in place," Sandusky said. "There were waiters in suits walking around with plates of champagne."
"I tried to make friends with some people in the White House, kind of get a little in so I would know what was going on," laughed Sandusky. "They knew where to put me to get a good view."
Sandusky said she and a few other workers were walking back to the Diplomat Room to take some photos when they were stopped and asked to wait. That area had been temporarily closed because President Trump was preparing to leave the White House through that room. Although she did not get to meet him, Sandusky said they were able to watch him walk across the White House lawn and leave on Marine One.
HGTV filmed the decorating of the White House. A special will appear on HGTV this Sunday (Dec. 9) at 5 p.m.
Currently Sandusky is attending Southeast Missouri State University, working to earn her masters in architectural design. She is able to work remotely for the construction company in California and work on her masters remotely. This allows her to travel to job sites as needed. Sandusky said she would definitely apply again.
"They definitely call people back," Sandusky said. "I don't know how it is determined, but I am crossing my fingers that I will get invited back again."