In January, Google invited students from across the United States to submit their ideas for the 16th annual Doodle for Google contest. Amidst the impressive array of submissions, one young artist from St. Thomas stood out. Harika Jhanwar, an 8-year-old student from All Saints Cathedral School, was selected as one of the 55 state and territory winners, chosen from tens of thousands of entries.
This year, in celebration of Google’s 25th anniversary, the prompt was “My wish for the next 25 years…” Through their art, young artists were encouraged to share their visions for the future. The response was overwhelming, with students expressing their hopes for safer communities, technological advancements, a cleaner planet, and greater unity among people.
Harika’s artwork, titled “Ocean in Motion,” beautifully encapsulated her dream of becoming a marine biologist dedicated to cleaning the litter-infested ocean.
Reflecting on her experience, Harika shared, “I drew myself cleaning the ocean, cleaning up litter. I was excited but nervous to do the drawings.”
The young artist was on vacation in Texas when she received the exciting news. “The first call was when I was in Texas and on vacation. Mom answered the phone and said I was the winner. she said that she was really proud of me,” she said.
To celebrate the achievements of Harika and the other winners, Google provided each of the 55 students with Google hardware and swag. Additionally, celebrations were held in their hometowns to showcase their artwork and honor their accomplishments.
Now, Harika is competing in the national contest. People may cast their votes here. Five national finalists will be chosen, one of whom will become the national winner. Voting ends on June 4.
As Google prepares to announce the national winner, Harika’s journey reminds us of the power of youthful creativity and the bright future envisioned by the next generation.
