Missouri 3rd-Grader Wins 2010 Doodle 4 Google Challenge

Mackenzie Melton, a 3rd grader from El Dorado Springs, Missouri was declared the overall winner of this year's Doodle 4 Google contest on May 26th, 2010. The nine-year old edged 33,000 students ranging from Kindergarten to 12th-Grade, with her Rainforest Habitat Doodle.

Mackenzie's pencil colored art beautifully depicted this year's theme - 'If I could do anything I would. . . .' She picked the rainforest because it is in imminent danger and believes it is unfair for the plants and animals that live there. The Missouri girl said that she likes most animals except for snakes and spiders, but she would try and save them too!

For her efforts, Mackenzie was flown to New York for a special award ceremony, where she received a $15,000USD scholarship, a netbook computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, a T-shirt with her doodle printed on it, and, the icing on the cake - Her Doodle was featured on Google's homepage for an entire day! That was not all - Her school also received a $25,000USD technology grant for a computer lab!

Three other finalists, also went to the Google Headquarters in New York and received a computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a T-shirt with their Doodle printed on it.

They included Raymundo Marquez from Texas,who got the judges nod for his 'Save the Rainforest' Doodle, where he showed the effects deforestation can have not only humans, but also, the rare and beautiful plants and animals who reside there.

7th grader, New Jersey resident, Vance Viggiano's Doodle was entititled 'The Love of Art'. If Vance could do anything, it would be to enrich the world with art and the everlasting joy it provides.

Bevan Schiffli, an 11th-grader, took a very different stance with his 'Branch Out' Doodle. If possible, the North Carolina resident would like to understand the different cultures and views and share the experiences with people through art and design.

The Doodles of all forty regional finalists will be on display at Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum for a month, and are also available on Google's website at www.google.com/doodle4google.

While the video for this year's winners is not available, below is the 2009 winning celebrations at Google's New York headquarters.

source: google.com/doodle4goodle.com