Some doodles are just doodles, but Michael Loria’s doodle carries a broader message.
“I drew houses because these times are hard,” said Loria, 8. “I see foreclosed houses everywhere.”
Armed with a message of hope that every kid will have a house and a yard and a place to play, the Sunrise Elementary School third-grader submitted his drawing to the national Doodle 4 Google contest and found out last week that he was named one of the finalists from Washington state.
“I was really excited,” he said.
The challenge was for kids to design a new Google logo (called the “doodle”) inspired by the theme, “What I Wish for the World.”
Loria, a well-spoken young man, said his doodle of homes lined up behind the familiar multi-color Goggle logo was designed to give hope that everyone can have a house.
He is one of 40 finalists nationwide and is in the running for the national competition. Should he win, his doodle will be displayed on the Google home page May 21. The champion “doodler” also wins a $15,000 college scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for his or her school.
The grand prize winner will be decided through a national vote on the company’s Web site (see box).
Loria said he worked two weeks on his doodle and was confident he would win. As a finalist, Loria has already won a trip to New York City the weekend of May 20 to see his doodle displayed at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, which will display the artwork from May 21 to July 5.
Loria said he was on the Google home page and saw an ad for the contest and the idea popped into his mind. With his parents’ encouragement, he set to transfer his idea to paper and based some of the homes in his design on those in his neighborhood.
According to Andrea Miller, Loria’s teacher, Loria’s design shows the detail-oriented approach he brings to class every day.
“I think this picture fits him to a T,” Miller said.
Miller knew Loria entered the contest because she had to sign up the school as a sponsor in February, but added she was speechless to find out one of her students was a finalist.
“I was amazed,” she said.
Miller and the rest of Loria’s classmates all said they planned to enter the contest next year, and Miller said she hoped it would become a tradition.
“We’ve started something new here,” she said.
Cast your vote: The Doodle 4 Google contest winner will be chosen through a national vote. If you’d like to vote for Michael Loria’s design, visit http://www.google.com/doodle4google/vote.html#
Loria’s design is in the “Grades K-3” tab from region 10.
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