‘Doodle 4 Google’

Local student finalist in national Web campaign

By MICHAEL ERB, merb@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG — A local student has been named as a finalist in a national Web campaign.

Daniel Miller, a ninth-grader at Jackson Junior High School, was one of 40 finalists in the “Doodle 4 Google” contest where students submitted artistic versions of the Google site logo. Visitors to the site can vote for their favorite among different grade categories.

Miller, 15, was one of several students in Kay Mason’s ninth-grade art class who created doodles. Mason sent several of the works to Google, and Miller’s was chosen from among the pool.

“I was very surprised,” Miller said. “There were a lot of really good doodles in the class.”

Miller chose a plant theme for his version of the Google logo, with flowers, trees and vines making up the letters. Below his drawing is a blurb by Miller explaining his choice and theme.

“What if life revolved around plants? My doodle represents how I see a world filled with lush greenery,” Miller says on the site. “Each season would bring its own exotic beauty, color that calls to the eyes in a beckoning way. Serenity is brought by the grace of the seasonal dance.”

Miller will fly to California next week to visit the “Googleplex,” Google’s headquarters in Mountain View. If chosen as the national winner, Miller will receive a $10,000 scholarship, a laptop and a T-shirt with his winning design. Jackson Junior High also would receive a $25,000 technology grant.

Even if he doesn’t win, Miller said it will have been worth the experience.

“It’s really exciting. Everyone is congratulating me,” he said. “I really like that my art is being recognized.”

The voting period ends May 18 and the winning logo will be displayed on the Google Web site May 22. Miller’s design can be found at www.google.com/doodle4google/vote.html under the Grades 7-9: Region 3 category.