The 2023 Google Doodle Contest asks students what they are grateful for

Google has revealed that the theme of the 2023 Doodle for Google contest will be “I’m thankful for…” The annual contest challenges students in kindergarten through 12th grade to design their own variation of the company’s famous logo in a way that reflects what they are grateful for in their personal lives.

They are also asked to write a short description of how they created the Doodle and share what they value most.

“Taking a step back to think about what we’re grateful for can be a great way to take care of our mental health and focus on what matters most,” Google said in a description of this year’s contest theme. “What moments, people, places and things are special to you? What or who can’t you live without? What are the things that get you through the day?”

Mental health experts say that focusing on the positive things in our lives, rather than the negative, can help promote mental health. This is especially important for young people, helping to build positive social and emotional skills while laying the foundations to help them cope with challenges as they mature.

Google’s competition usually focuses on promoting children’s well-being. A 2002 contest in which students were asked to describe how “I take care of myself by…” was won by a high school student in Florida who described how relying on those around her for help was her greatest resource. The 2021 competition challenged students to describe “I am strong because…”

The contest’s winning entry will be featured on Google’s homepage for a day, one of the many Google Doodles the company regularly uses to bring to life the company’s logo, which usually occupies the search engine’s home page. It’s a high-profile place for any artist, as this Doodle will garner hundreds of millions of views simply because of its prime position.

Along with the presentation, the winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology award for his or her school. The contest runs through March 7 and is open to all K-12 students based in the US, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Students interested in entering the competition can submit their artwork and short essays here.