Last Thursday started out just like any typical school day for Kathryn Loewe, a 6th grader at LWC Intermediate. The students were told there was an assembly that afternoon. Loewe heard it was for Smarter Balance. Later, while at her band lesson, someone told her it was for music.
So it was quite the surprise when Loewe was announced as South Dakota’s finalist in the Doodle 4 Google competition.
“I was completely shocked! There were all these leads I just didn’t follow,” she said with a smile.
During the assembly, all of the students were wearing Google t-shirts, Loewe herself was handed one when she walked into the gymnasium, but that contest she had enetered months before was far from her mind. Then when they talked about the contest she said to the LWC Administrative Assistant, Bridget Jackson, “I did that!”
When they started listing traits about the winner, that’s when Loewe realized they were talking abut her.
“They said this person likes ketchup, and I asked for bottles of ketchpup one Christmas,” she explained, “They said takwondo, and I’ve enoyed that awhile. Legos? Half of my life is spent playing Legos!”
And yet, Loewe said she didn’t want to assume, “My heart was pounding, but I thought don’t get your hopes up.”
Then they announced Kathryn Loewe as the finalist for South Dakota. She went to the front of the gym with the representatives from Google to unveil her design reproduced on a gigantic canvas for her classmates and teachers to see.
United States Senator Mike Rounds was there to congratulate Loewe along with Loewe’s family.
The “Doodle 4 Google” competition is open to K-12 students across in all 53 U.S. states and territories. This year’s theme was “What inspires me?” and Loewe’s doodle was chosen over thousands of other entries received this year.
The 53 state and territory finalists will be narrowed down to a group of five by a fan vote, which will last two weeks starting May 7th. One of the five will then be named the national winner in June, and will take home a $30,000 college scholarship, a trip to Google’s head office in California and his or her school will receive a $50,000 Google for Education grant. To see a full list of state winners and to vote online, visit: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/vote.html
Voting is open until May 18, 2018. Loewe’s Doodle is in the Grade 6-7 category.
Loewe said she enjoys entering contests. This was one her mother had found for her.
The finalists will be narrowed down to a group of five by a fan vote. To vote online, visit: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/vote.html
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