'Opportunity of a lifetime': New Mexican Paul J. Sedillo selected as one of over 300 volunteers to decorate White House

Paul J. Sedillo is always up for a challenge.

As the Special Education/Gifted Department chair at New Mexico Highlands University, he’s faced with hurdles every day.

In August, when the New Mexico native applied to be a volunteer to decorate the White House in Washington for the holidays, he knew what he was getting into.

Sedillo also had been selected as a volunteer in 2016 under President Barack Obama’s administration.

But this one was different.

“Originally, my husband and I put our applications to be accepted,” Sedillo said. “With the volunteer application, they ask what design work you’ve done in the past. I wrote what I had worked on (in) The Red Room last time.”

According to the White House, the 2023 holiday theme is inspired by how children experience this festive season — completely present in the beauty and bounty around them, their senses alight, with hearts open to the “Magic, Wonder and Joy” of the holidays.

“In this season of reflection and goodwill, we hope you will embrace your inner child and delight in simply being present with those you love. It is a time for our senses to awaken — for each of us to smell the aroma of favorite family recipes, to hear the warmth of a dear friend’s voice, to see the glow of lights and decorations, to taste the sweetness of candies and treats, and to feel the quiet stillness and strength of faith,” first lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Jill Biden announced the theme Nov. 27 during a celebration at the White House. It was recorded by HGTV. The holiday special, “White House Christmas 2023,” will air at 4 p.m. Sunday on HGTV.

'Opportunity of a lifetime': New Mexican Paul J. Sedillo selected as one of more than 300 volunteers to decorate White House

There are 13 rooms that are decorated from floor to ceiling. It takes more than 300 volunteers a week to finish the entire project.

After being notified he was selected as a volunteer, Sedillo waited .

“There’s a two-week period of time when they do an extensive background check on you,” Sedillo said. “After I was accepted, I started planning my trip. It’s an honor to be selected, and I had to pay for everything.”

Sedillo flew to Washington the week of Thanksgiving and met his teammates. All the teams are named after Santa’s reindeer, minus Rudolph. Sedillo was placed in Team Vixen.

Arriving at the White House, it was like an undercover mission.

The Secret Service was around 24/7. Volunteers were asked to place cellphones into a paper bag with their names on it — and would get it back after the work was done at the end of the day.

Oh, and talking to family and friends about it was prohibited.

“There’s so much security surrounding the event, I understood,” Sedillo said.

Planning for the event began nine months earlier, when the first lady came up with the theme and color scheme.

Sedillo was able to meet volunteers from other places and developed friendships quickly.

Amid all the excitement and work, he was impressed by the grand scale of it all.

“We were able to walk through the warehouse where all of the ornaments and holiday decorations are stored,” he said. “We were able to use a lot of the items that fell in line with the theme.”

Sedillo said the majority of Team Vixen were men. The team decided to wear purple Santa hats.

During the week, Sedillo also faced one of his fears.

“I’m afraid of heights,” he said, laughing. “When they asked me if I wanted to go on the roof to decorate a tree. Anybody who knows me doesn’t believe that I did it. It was such a wonderful experience.

“This has been an opportunity of a lifetime for me.”