Vote for This Suburban Third Grader to Win Google's Doodle Contest

Submission by School District 54

Amelia Sanders, a third-grade student at Dooley Elementary School in Schaumburg, was selected as the state of Illinois winner in the Doodle 4 Google 2015 Contest.

Dooley Art Teacher Kristin Thomas encouraged Amelia and other students to enter the contest.

She was recognized at an all-school, surprise assembly at Dooley on Friday, Feb. 5. Amelia did not know she was the winner until her artwork was revealed at the end of the assembly.

A “doodle” is the logo design that appears on the Google home page periodically to celebrate special events, holidays or the lives of artists and inventors. Each year, students from across the country are asked to doodle based on a special theme. This year’s theme was “what makes me … me.”

Amelia called her doodle “Animal Kingdom.” As part of the contest, students are required to describe their doodle. Amelia wrote “I love animals. I read books and watch TV shows about animals all the time. All animals have different powers. Even the small animals can surprise the big ones. I want to be a cute, smart, tough and brave girl like my favorite animals.”

Dooley Art Teacher Kristin Thomas had encouraged students to submit artwork they created at home or during free time at school.

Click here to access Amelia’s artwork on Google. From now until Feb. 22, people are invited to visit the page and vote for their favorite doodle. Google will choose the winner from among the five finalists with the most votes and the winner’s artwork will be featured on the Google homepage. The winner will be announced March 21.