An Alta High student could soon have her art on the Google homepage for hundreds of millions to see.
Senior Makenna Jolley has been selected as a winner in the search-engine’s annual student art contest with her doodle, “I’m Snow Grateful,” which follows this year’s contest theme, “I’m so grateful ….”
As the Utah winner, she joins 55 other students from across the country — one from each state and territory — who are now vying for national honors and scholarship money.
Google representatives were at Alta High at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday to be part of a celebration and party in honor of Makenna’s statewide win. The event was attended by Alta Principal Ken Rowley, Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins, Board of Education member Amanda Oaks, and Makenna’s teachers and friends.
The crowd gathered in the lobby at Alta’s Performing Arts Center cheered when it was revealed that Makenna, who wants to pursue more education in graphic design, was this year’s big winner for Utah.
“I just kind of had to freeze for a second,” Jolley told KSL Newsradio about the surprise announcement. “I just started crying because I was so excited.”
An online vote will help determine which state-winning doodle is selected to be featured on the search engine’s site in the near future. Voting for five finalists will be from May 18-25.
How to vote? Go to this site — https://doodles.google.com/d4g/ — click grades 10-12 and vote for Utah.
Google will announce the five national finalists after voting ends. Each of the five finalists receives a $5,000 scholarship.
One of those finalists will be selected to be the featured artist on the Google homepage for one day.
The national winner will take home a $30,000 college scholarship and their school will receive a $50,000 technology package towards the establishment or improvement of a computer lab or technology program.
