A Kansas ornament on the White House Christmas tree has its roots in Kansas University.

U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback chose Greg Thomas, professor and chairman of the KU design department, to design the 13-inch sphere.

It is designed to be viewable from above or below, with a blue Kansas sky on the upper half and a Kansas sunflower on the lower half.

Thomas attended a Holiday Open House reception in Washington this week at the White House.