Stilwell third-grader wins Doodle for Google contest

“What I want in 25 years: I want for everybody to come from the world to have a good life so everybody will never fight.”

Maryetta School third grader Keenan Chavez of Stilwell has a vision for the future.

As part of the 16th annual Doodle for Google contest and in celebration of Google’s 25th anniversary, students were to answer the prompt, “My wish for the next 25 years” through their art.

Chavez’s art and hopes for the future resonated with Google, and last week, the company announced that the 9-year-old was one of 55 state and territory winners, selected among tens of thousands of submissions.

To celebrate their achievements, Google sent each of the 55 students Google hardware and swag and held celebrations in their hometowns to showcase their artwork.

The student is now part of the contest to become one of the five national finalists, one of whom will be chosen as the national winner.

“I was really excited when my dad told me,” Chavez said. “When they asked that question, I wanted everybody to bring about peace in the world.”

As part of the national contest, students were asked to create their Doodles using any materials they wanted. From crayons, clay, to found objects, this year’s contest featured more mediums of digital art, including virtual reality paintings, videos of stop-motion, songs and poems. Students were also required to write an artist's statement about what they created and how it represents their wish for the next 25 years.

Google employees then help select one national winner from that pool whose doodle goes live on Google's homepage for a day seen by hundreds of millions.

The national winner also takes home a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for their school/non-profit organization and swag like laptops and backpacks. Their artwork additionally gets showcased in a special exhibit at a gallery or museum.

Four groups are judged: K-3, 4-5, 6-7 and 8-9. There's also a public vote for a national fan favorite winner separate from the main contest. State winners receive Chromebooks, shirts and stickers.

The Doodle for Google program aims to foster creativity, self-expression, and an appreciation for visual arts and design among America's students. It encourages exploration of Google's core function: organizing information through eye-catching graphics.

For many young doodlers, seeing their artwork adorn the iconic Google homepage proves a dream come true thanks to one of the biggest platforms for student art anywhere.

“For the letters (in the word Google), I drew everybody as like people,” the third-grader said. “In the background, I gave a little bridge and then the sky, little birds and the sun.”

Chavez comes from an artistic family, and he said he wants to continue to create art in the future.

To cast a vote for the national winner, visit here .

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