by Kiara Adams ∙ Las Vegas Review-Journal
1 hour ago
Shania Anna Chee, 12, poses with her Google Doodle at Cadence Central Park in Henderson, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @madelinepcarter
Kashlynn Chee, mother of Shania Anna Chee, displays a drawing of Shania, who won first place for the state of Nevada in the national Doodle for Google contest, at Cadence Central Park in Henderson, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @madelinepcarter
Shania Anna Chee, 12, shows a t-shirt with her Google Doodle on it at Cadence Central Park in Henderson, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @madelinepcarter
Shania Anna Chee, 12, poses for a photo at Cadence Central Park in Henderson, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @madelinepcarter
Shania Anna Chee, 12, poses with her Nevada state winner certificate of the national Doodle for Google contest on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Cadence Central Park in Henderson. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @madelinepcarter
Twelve-year-old Shania Anna Chee is proud. Proud of our heritage, proud of our art, and most importantly, proud of ourselves.
On May 18, Chi, who attended Brown Junior High School in Henderson, was selected as one of the winners of the 15th annual Doodle for Google contest.
“Winning was very exciting,” Chi said. “My friends and my parents were proud of me, and I was proud of myself and my art that I was chosen.”
The contest began in January and invited elementary and middle school students from across the country to share what they are grateful for.
Chee’s winning drawing, titled “The Mittens”, was a tribute to her humble heritage, the Navajo people. Each element of his artwork is a special part of Chi’s heritage, including the backdrop of the mountains of Monument Valley in Utah.
Chi’s work was selected from hundreds of thousands of entries submitted across 55 states and territories.
Chi was the winner for the state of Nevada, meaning that her entry would be voted on along with the other 54 entries that were selected as winners from other states. The winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 technology package for their school or nonprofit, and their artwork will be featured on Google for a day.
Voting for the contest opened on 18 May. Google has published a gallery showcasing the winning entries from across the country.
After the vote, the 55 acts would be reduced to five, one of which would be the national winner.
‘I walk with who I am’
Chi inherited her love of drawing from her father, who also draws. Chee had creative ideas and immediately wanted to get them down on paper, just like he did with his Google Doodle.
The first “G” and “E” in the Google illustration of Chi are represented by patterns of Navajo woven rugs. The first “o” is drawn as a hogan, which in Daine culture is known as a dwelling or ceremonial place. The second “O” represents the sun god, Chee said that part of the drawing was the most difficult to draw, while the second “G” is drawn in the manner of a Navajo necklace of squash blossoms.
Chi responded to Google’s request by saying: “I’m proud to be Dean, it’s a part of me where I carry who I am.”
Being able to showcase his culture through Google is very important to Chi, as it will be shown to a wider audience where his culture can be exposed to more people.
Chi said, “What inspired me to make this painting was to show my Navajo culture to other people.” “To show who I am and where I come from.”
