Doodle puts student, school in run for money
By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
For the second year in a row, Alice Cao has received national attention for her artwork.
And this time, Cao could win herself and her school a lot of money.
Cao, a junior at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, as a sophomore won a $5,000 scholarship and a free trip to Washington as a top-eight national finalist in the "Redesign Your School Contest."
This year, she has been chosen as one of the 40 best entrants in the "Doodle for Google" contest from thousands of submissions.
The theme of the contest is "What if ... ." Cao's design and description, which focused on using Google as a peacemaking instrument, is displayed on the Doodle 4 Google site at www.google.com/doodle4google and will be voted on by the public for four national finalist awards.
Not only does the top overall finisher in the contest receive a $10,000 scholarship to the college of his or her choice, but that student's school also will receive a $25,000 technology grant.
So Angie Pahls, art teacher at TMP-Marian, is urging people to visit the "doodle" site to vote.
"We would like to encourage any and all to vote," Pahls said. "This is big for (Cao), and it would mean a lot to our technology department, not only with new programs but updating the technology we do have."
Voting began Monday and closes Sunday.
As one of the top 40 chosen for the voting, Cao already has won a trip to the Googleplex in Mountain View, Calif., for an awards ceremony May 21.
If she is in the top four finalists overall -- there will be a winner in each of the four grade levels -- Cao would receive a laptop computer in addition to her trip.
But Cao would like nothing better than to win the top prize, not only for herself, but for her school as well.
"This is bigger than last year even," said Cao, a native of China. "This would be really nice for my school."
The script on Cao's entry reads: "Peace, one of the most important factors in the world, makes our life absent of hostility and harmony. And children are our future peace makers. If children can review my design 'peace maker Google' or use Google to search for the peace, the world can become better and sweeter."
Her entry was chosen the top one for the 10th- through 12th-grade division for Region 6, which comprises Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Cao was one of two Kansans to make the top 40. Anna Price, a second- grader from Overland Trail Elementary School in Overland Park, is the Region 6 representative in the kindergarten through third-grade division.