A Washington middle school student will have her artwork featured on Google’s homepage Tuesday for 24 hours after winning the national Doodle for Google competition.
Rebecca Wu’s artwork – titled ‘My Sweetest Memories’ – pays homage to her sisters, who Wu said she loves and sometimes dislikes, but can’t imagine her life without them.
“We help to inspire each other and to help each other grow like the vines and flowers in my picture,” Wu said when describing her Doodle. “I am never lonely with them and they can cheer me up.”
Wu will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for her school or a non-profit organization of her choice, Google hardware and branded prizes, Google said in a news release sent to USA TODAY.
The Doodle competition is open to students in grades K-12 across the United States and four U.S. territories – Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The task: create a Doodle for the chance to have it featured on Google’s website.
This year’s theme was “I am grateful for…” Here’s what Wu said her Doodle represents.
‘My Sweetest Memories’ Doodle by Rebecca Wu
‘I can’t imagine my life without my sisters’
In the Doodle, Wu drew her sisters sitting next to her holding a cup of hot chocolate. Wu, who is sitting in the middle, said this is one of her fondest memories.
“I have learned to be a little bit more patient with them, and they have had an enormous impact on me,” Wu said. “I am grateful for them and all that they have done for me.”
The rainbow in the background symbolizes one of the first things Wu helped one of her sisters draw, she said.
The sisters are surrounded by flowers and vines, which Wu said represents “how the sisters help each other grow like the vines and flowers in my picture.” The stems and flowers create the word “Google.”
“My drawing is composed of all our happiest memories to show just how grateful I am for them,” Wu said.
Every finalist is a winner
Actor Noah Schnapp, author and illustrator Brian Selznick, 2022 National Teacher of the Year Kurt Russell and Google’s Doodle Team Lead Jessica Yu judged this year’s competition.
The competition is divided into 5 groups – Kindergarten-3rd grade, 4th-5th grade, 6th-7th grade, 8th-9th grade and 10th-12th grade.
The finalists from each group will receive a $5,000 college scholarship, Google hardware and other prizes.
Other Doodle for Google finalists
“Joshua Tree” by Alison Rhee
“Honey Bees” by Benjamin Cummins
“The Quiet of My Room” by Annalise Perez
“First Last Year” by Rose Grino
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