Local student is a Doodle for Google finalist
by David Boyle
News Director
A Blanding student has been named a finalist in the Doodle for Google national competition.
Olive Harris, an 8th grade student at Albert R Lyman Middle School, was recognized as one of five finalists in the competition at a celebration at the school on April 16.
As a finalist Olive was awarded a $10,000 college scholarship, along with some google tech and merchandise.
Olive’s drawing was chosen among 30,000 entries from students ranging from Kindergarten to seniors in high school.
Olive’s drawing represent 8th and 9th grades in the finals. Olive says finding out she was a finalist was exciting but also made her nervous.
“We found out a month before the official announcement and I didn’t totally believe it at first. My mom kept asking the Google person on the phone if this was real or if they meant to say she was a state winner.
“They explained that the format of the competition changed this year and they went straight to picking 5 national finalists.”
The theme for this year was “My superpower is…” with Olive’s drawing representing reading which is not only a power but a passion for Olive.
“I love to read and write, and I have plans to write and publish a novel someday.”
Olive adds she put a fair amount of work into the drawing.
“I sketched up ideas and it took me a couple days to finish it.”
ARL Principal Ryan Palmer says that Olive is an amazing student.
“She’s a very high level student, high achieving but she works incredibly hard. Very humble. She works hard to help everyone around her be better too.
“Unassuming but holy cow she’s a pretty incredible kid. Committed to a love of things and everything she does she does incredibly well.”
Voting is open now for the contest. If Olive wins she’d receive an additional $45,000 scholarship and ARL would receive a $50,000 technology package from Google.
Palmer adds the school is incredibly proud of her.
“It’s so amazing to have someone from our community represent the school on a national stage like that.
“It would also mean a little bit of a technology package for us as well. The school would receive a $50,000 tech package so that would be great. We welcome that, but first and foremost it’s just really cool for her.”
You can vote for Olive online at Doodles.Google.com/d4g