The 2011 Doodle 4 Google Scholarship Contest is a great method to try to find funding for your child’s education by offering a unique scholarship way to start thinking about what they want to do with their life. As of January 19, the 2011 Google 4 doodle theme considers the future of the entrant by asking, “What I’d like to do someday…” posing an important question, the answers to which those just starting college are not entirely sure of themselves. Starting this year students across the entire k-12 educational spectrum may submit entries. By engaging young students in this way, Doodle 4 Google contest gives children an honest chance to consider what they are interested in doing, imagining a future where they have accomplished their goals in education. Despite the relatively small pool of winners, every student participating in the program gets to work through their future career choices and dwell positively on what is to come.
Some parents may worry that thinking about college for a young child may be too much too soon, but in reality it is never too early to start thinking about your child’s future. Of course burdening your child with thinking long and hard about their future may do more harm than good, making them worry about something years away. Doodling for Google, however, is a fun and game-like way to accomplish this goal. In many ways Google’s doodling scholarship is asking children to have fun with their imagination, encouraging them to think about and then draw a picture of what they would like to do. There are no wrong answers to the question, no pressure to think deeply or worry about their choices. Maybe they want to do something as fantastic as being the first person on Mars, or something more practical like being a doctor. It offers a rare opportunity for parents to see what their children think about the future, and for a child to explore that future while being creative in the process.
As with many unusual scholarships, it is easy to get lost in the details, worrying that if your child doesn’t perform the absolute best that they won’t win one of the very few awards available nationally. Winning the Google Doodle Contest is only half of the point in this competition though. If you make it about winning or losing, you risk pushing your child into a direction which turns them off to schooling. Rather, this is about the fun involved in the process, the excitement of considering the future and its endless possibilities.
When applying to scholarships, the odds are frequently against you getting the award. This should never deter you from entering your name as a candidate, and, unlike many other corporate scholarships, Doodle 4 Google offers a chance to reflect positively on your child’s future, exploring potential outlooks. Regardless of winning, this process should hopefully encourage your student to think of a bright future, inspiring them to imagine themselves in terms of what they may become.
The national winner of the Doodle for Google Scholarship Contest will receive $15,000 towards their future college education along with a trip to Google’s New York offices, a laptop, a Wacom design tablet and a t-shirt displaying their doodle. Three other national finalists will be awarded $5,000 to be used at the school of their choice, a Wacom design tablet and a t-shirt featuring their doodle as well.
Entire k-12 schools can enter this program or just an after-school program may enter as well. Parents of students whose schools have not entered the Doodle 4 Google competition may enter their child individually. However students attending a school which has entered the contest are encouraged to participate through their individual school’s program.
The competition ends on March 16, 2011, so find out if your school is participating already and, if they are not, enter individually. The Google Doodle winners are judged and choosen by Google’s very own excutives which will take place May19th at the New York Google offices which is a yearly special occurrence. Please do take the time to apply for all those who may qualify for the Doodle 4 Google unusual scholarships.
Resources for other Google Scholarships
Google Scholarships and the GooglePlex Retreat
Google Anita Borg Scholarship for Female Students
Lime Google Scholarship for Students with Disabilities