Regional School Student in National Google Design Contest

ERMA — Lower Cape May Regional High School junior Rafael Gonzalez is in the running for a $15,000 college scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for the school from Google.
Gonzalez is one of 40 finalists from 33,000 submissions in competition to produce a “Doodle 4 Google” design. That is the changing Google logos seen on their search site. On Christmas, the Google logo may be wearing a Santa Claus hat or on the Fourth of July, waving a flag.
Gonzalez’s “Doodle 4 Google” follows the theme “If I could do anything, I would…” His artwork shows a chalkboard with a microscope representing the letter “O” in Google surrounded by math problems and the shadow of a student’s raised hand representing the letter “L.”
The title of his “Doodle 4 Google” is “equal education for everyone.”
An assembly was held at the high school May 18 featuring two representatives from Google and a large rendering of Gonzalez’s design on an easel on stage. He received rounds of applause from the audience.
Google spokesperson Tali Jang said Google employees voted on the 33,000 submissions narrowing it down to 400 designs. Google brought in “expert jurors,” well-known illustrators, cartoonists and animators from organizations like Disney, The Sesame Street Workshop, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and Peanuts and Pixar Animation Studios to narrow the 400 to 40 finalists.
The public will vote on line for their favorite at: www.google.com/doodle4google. Only one voter per computer is permitted. Voting will continue until May 25.
Votes from the public will narrow the field from 40 to four Google Doodle with Google executives choosing one winner. The winning design will be displayed on the Google homepage on May 27.
“It’s going to be viewed by hundreds of millions of people,” said Jang.
All 40 finalist’s “Doodles” including Gonzalez’s design will be displayed at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
On May 25, all finalists will be flown to New York City and the winner will announced the following day.
Gonzalez has attended seven schools in his lifetime having lived in Puerto Rico and Bronx, New York, which were all a bit different in their teaching methods. He said some schools used old methods.
“I believe everybody should have equal opportunities and to have higher education and achieve what they want to do,” said Gonzalez.
He initially created two designs but his friends suggested the “Doodle” featuring the microscope.
Regional Web/Graphic Design teacher Kathy Parker asked her entire class to create a “Doodle 4 Google,” and chose six students to submit the design to Google. She said Gonzalez spent a lot of time on the design.
Gonzalez said his goal in life is to attend Full Sail University in Florida and become an artist.
Google Product Marketing Manager Eva Woo said the mission of Google was “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”