Doodle 4 Google Is Here: Annual Contest For Kids Starts Its Sixth Year

Google has announced the start of its annual doodle contest, Doodle 4 Google, which celebrates young artists across the nation by giving them a shot at having their artistic creation grace the web giant’s search engine homepage.

Now accepting submissions for its sixth year of competition, Google invites children to draw their own version of the company’s classic logo. The theme of 2013’s contest is “My Best Day Ever,” and the company encourages kids to submit drawings that visually express what their best day looks like.

ABC News writes that the Doodle 4 Google challenge is open to students ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade. The winning entry will be featured on the company’s homepage and the artist will walk away with a scholarship in the amount of $30,000. The winner’s school will also receive an award in the form of a $50,000 technology grant.

Ryan Germick, team leader of Google Doodle, spoke of the joy holding such a contest brings:

“The type of creativity that comes from children naturally is what I as a professional creative person work at. It’s awesome to go straight to the source to see children who are uninhibited and just express themselves in a creative and fun way.”

An article by Time writes that a total of 250 submissions will ultimately receive honors by Google. The competition will be narrowed down to 50 state finalists in each of five age groups. All finalists will compete for the overall grand prize and have their Doodle featured on Google’s homepage for 24 hours starting on May 23, 2013.

Doodle 4 Google submissions are evaluated by a panel of Google staff members and celebrity judges on the basis of creativity, artistic merit, appropriateness, and communication. Doodles by the state finalists will then be made available for voting by the public.

In addition, each of the 50 state winners will have their artwork displayed as part of an exhibit by the American Museum of Natural History from May 22 through July 14.

Kids who are interested in taking part in the sixth annual Doodle 4 Google challenge can enter at the official website.