High School Sophomore Wins Google Contest — and $30,000 Scholarship — With Diversity Doodle
This article is part of a series on that highlights the courageous individuals, triumphs, success stories, and acts of kindness taking place in schools all across America. To read more inspiring profiles, visit The74million.org/series/inspiring.
Sarah Harrison, a 15-year-old student from Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut, envisions a future where people can love and accept each other regardless of their religion, gender, race, ethnicity, or sexuality. She has artistically portrayed this future for the world to see.
Sarah’s artwork, depicting eight teenagers who represent a diverse range of backgrounds, won the 2017 Doodle 4 Google competition. Explaining her inspiration, Sarah stated, "I wanted to draw something that would showcase the possibility of harmony and happiness among diverse communities. I hope that my drawing encourages everyone to be open, accepting, and respectful towards others. We all deserve mutual respect, as we never truly know the struggles someone else has faced."
Selected from a pool of 140,000 entries submitted under the theme "What I See for the Future," Sarah’s doodle was featured on the Google homepage for two days. In addition to the nationwide exposure for her artistic talent, Google awarded her a $30,000 college scholarship to support her education.
Sarah will also have the opportunity to visit Google’s Mountain View, California campus and meet with the Google Doodle team. Furthermore, her school will receive $50,000 to enhance their technology resources and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.
Google frequently showcases user-generated doodles to commemorate holidays, historical events, causes, and notable individuals. For this particular contest, Google selected four finalists from different age groups whose artwork addressed various topics, including diverse communities, ancient animals, renewable energy sources, and e-waste reduction.
Sarah’s vision of a world where everyone feels safe and accepted, regardless of their identity, stood out as something truly exceptional. William Floyd, head of external affairs for Google, commended Sarah’s doodle, stating, "It beautifully captures values such as diversity, inclusion, and respect in an inspiring and creative image."
By signing up for newsletter, you can receive stories like these directly in your inbox. Don’t miss out on the latest updates!
