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Shelby Newton, an eighth-grader at Northwest Middle School, is one of 40 regional finalists in the national Google art contest.

Shelby will travel to New York City later this month, where the national winner will be announced. Four Doodle 4 Google national finalists will be chosen by online voters.

“I’ve loved to draw for as long as I can remember, and I like to take photographs,” Shelby said.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade were challenged to design a doodle, incorporating the Google logo, to be displayed on the search engine’s home page.

More than 107,000 students entered the contest. This year’s theme was, “What I’d like to do someday …”

When her art teacher requested students enter the contest, it didn’t take Shelby long to figure out what she wanted to do.

“It’s what I’d like to be someday … a photographer, so I drew each letter as a Polaroid picture,” she said. Her “g” is a Scrabble game board piece, the “o” is a bubble, the next “o” is an eye, the second “g” is flowers and roots, the “l” is a tree, and the “e” depicts graffiti on a brick wall.

When Shelby received a call last week from Google to let her know she was a regional finalist, she was shocked. “I couldn’t believe it because there were such good submissions from my school,” she said.

Google will pay for Shelby and one parent to travel to New York on May 18- 20 for an awards ceremony. Her doodle also will be displayed at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

The national winner will receive a $15,000 college scholarship, along with other prizes.

If Shelby wins, Northwest Middle also will receive a $25,000 technology grant.

“I’ve never been to New York, so I’m excited about the trip, and I hope to get to go to a Broadway play,” Shelby said.

Google officials visited Northwest on Wednesday for a special assembly to highlight Shelby’s work, explain the online voting and get everyone pumped up.

“Shelby is a very positive, creative student, and we are blessed to have her here with us,” Principal Misty Walker said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Shelby and Northwest Middle.”

If Shelby wins, the school will use the $25,000 technology grant to expand the computer lab.

“All of my friends think it’s awesome I made it this far, out of 107,000 overall,” Shelby said. “It’s such an honor.”

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer.brown@news-record.com