Cobb freshman to represent Georgia in Google Doodle art competition

Helena Soriano, winner of the "Doodle 4 Google" art competition, will now represent Georgia as a finalist in the national contest.

Credit: Helena Soriano

Credit: Helena Soriano

Helena Soriano, winner of the "Doodle 4 Google" art competition, will now represent Georgia as a finalist in the national contest.

One Marietta student might soon find her art on the front page of Google.

Aspiring artist and Pope High School freshman Helena Soriano has been announced as Georgia’s winner for Google’s annual “Doodle 4 Google” competition. Soriano, now a state finalist, will compete in the national contest against nine other 8th and 9th-graders across the country.

Competing artists created doodles of what inspires them while recreating the Google logo. “Doodle 4 Google” selected 53 finalists from elementary, middle and high schools all over the U.S. Winners were judged in five categories: grades levels K-1st, 4th-5th, 6th-7th, 8th-9th and 10th-12th. One winner will be selected from each grade-level group.

Helena and her family and friends celebrate her winning Georgia’s  “Doodle 4 Google” art competition.

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Soriano’s doodle, “Wildlife Wonders,” used the Google logo to illustrate animals in their natural habitats.

"I really like drawing and studying animals because they all have diversity and all have very interesting behaviors," said Soriano’s written statement for the doodle.

State and territory finalists were judged on three criteria: artistic merit, creativity and theme communication. The letters of the Google logo had to be visible and the theme, “What Inspires Me?” had to have been expressed in the art and written statement.

Helena Soriano's winning doodle for "Doodle 4 Google" competition.

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If Soriano is announced the national winner,  her doodle will be transformed into an interactive experience which will go live on Google.com’s homepage June 8, along with a $30,000 college scholarship and a trip to Google headquarters in California.

Pope High School will also receive a $50,000 Google for Education grant for the advancement of computer labs or technology programs at the school if she wins the national finals.

“We are extremely proud of Helena for representing Georgia, Cobb County, and Pope High school as a national finalist for the “Doodle 4 Google” annual art competition,” said Tom Flugum, principal of Pope High School.

“She is an example of what we strive to teach all of our students; to think, learn, grow and lead! “ he said. “Her skill and creativity will serve as an inspiration to others, and we look forward to seeing her artwork displayed on the Google home page.”

READ | Metro Atlanta well represented on list of best high schools in the U.S.

Google users can vote for the best doodle from the 53 finalists, including Soriano's  doodle, by visiting the competition website until May 18.

The five national finalists — one from each grade-level category — will then be judged by a panel of Google executives who will announce the national winner on June 8.

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