February 2008
Google announced the launch of "Doodle 4 Google," a competition that invites school children to design a Google logo inspired by the question, "What If...?"
The winning student's doodle will be displayed on the Google homepage on May 22, 2008; the champion "doodler" will also win a $10,000 college scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for his/her school.
The "Doodle 4 Google" competition is open to K-12 students in the U.S. Participating classrooms can use accompanying lesson plans to help guide students, while also integrating the project into classroom learning. Suggested questions will help students start dreaming and doodling: "What if...I could see into the future? What if....I could build any kind of invention I wanted?"
"Finding engaging projects that are aligned with core curricula and state standards is hard," said Kevin Jarrett, an elementary teacher from New Jersey.
"The Doodle 4 Google contest is a winner because it builds on the intersections of art, science, social studies and language arts, captures the imagination of students, and provides them with an opportunity to share their creativity with the world."
Students' doodles will be judged on artistic merit, creativity, representation of the theme, and other criteria. A panel of independent judges and Google employees will select the top doodles across age groups, from which the public will help select the final four.
The grand prize winner will then be selected by Google and announced at an event hosted at Google's headquarters on May 21, 2008. The doodle will be displayed on the Google homepage the following day.
The customization of the Google logo started in 1999, and these "doodles" are now designed almost exclusively by Google Webmaster Dennis Hwang, whose work is seen by millions every time he exhibits on the Google homepage.
Dennis has creatively depicted worldwide events, anniversaries and holidays with doodles that incorporate the Google logo for the world of users to celebrate.
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