Freeport student named Illinois Doodle for Google winner

Amelia Winter, a third grader at Center Elementary School in Freeport, is one of five student artist finalists in the 14th annual Doodle for Google competition.
Amelia Winter, a third grader at Center Elementary School in Freeport, is one of five student artist finalists in the 14th annual Doodle for Google competition.

FREEPORT — Amelia Winter of Center Elementary School is hoping to see her original artwork on Google's homepage later this year.

The third grader recently was named one of the 54 U.S. state territory winners in Google's 14th annual Doodle for Google competition, open to K-12 students across the country.

The contest is based on the ever-popular artistic spins on the Google logo displayed prominently on the Google homepage in honor of special events.

The theme for this year's doodles was "I care for myself by ..."

Winter's doodle is dubbed "Golden Doodle ... I care for myself by surrounding myself with love from my dog Dasher."

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Winter's piece was chosen from thousands of entries received this year. It shows her dog, Dasher, playing with Winter among Google's signature red, blue and yellow letters.

Students at Center Elementary celebrated Winter's selection as a finalist with a surprise assembly.

Nationwide voting started Thursday and continues through July 12 at doodles.google.com/d4g/.

The public will now determine the best Google Doodles of this year's competition with their votes.

The winners from each age group will have their artwork displayed on Google's homepage for a day.

Winter just completed the third grade. Her artwork is a finalist for Illinois in the K-3 age group.

The national winner also will take home a $30,000 college scholarship and their school will receive a $50,000 tech package towards the establishment or improvement of a computer lab or technology program.

Winter is one of about 3,800 students enrolled in the Freeport School District.

Corina Curry is the news director for the Rockford Register Star and Freeport Journal-Standard: ccurry@rrstar.com; @corinacurry

This article originally appeared on Journal Standard: Illinois Doodle for Google 2022 winner: Freeport student Amelia Winter