Lauren Allex, of Marlboro, a freshman at Biotechnology High School, Freehold Township, was recognized for her achievement as a state finalist in the Doodle for Google competition during a school-wide assembly on Feb. 10, according to a press release.
Doodle 4 Google is an annual contest open to students in grades K-12. Students are invited to create their own Google doodle for the chance to have it featured on the Google homepage. Lauren is one of 53 finalists from across the United States who submitted doodles in response to the question, “What makes me … me,” according to the press release.
Lauren wrote about her doodle, “Ever since I was a child I’ve collected bugs and plants (mostly weeds that I thought looked nice!), googling how to care for them. If anyone ever finds a jar with a bug in it around the house, they instantly know it’s me!”
The national winner will have his or her doodle featured on the U.S. Google.com homepage for one day. He or she will also receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 Google for Education grant for his or her school, a trip to Google’s headquarters in California to meet the Google Doodlers, and the opportunity to nominate a teacher to come on the trip, according to the press release.
Principal Sean Meehan said, “I always encourage students to follow their passion. Lauren’s achievement is an example of where your interests can take you.”
Biotechnology High School is a specialized public magnet high school which focuses on biology and the life sciences delivered through an International Baccalaureate curriculum. Biotechnology High School has 325 students in grades 9-12 from throughout Monmouth County. It is part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District and one of its five career academies. Last year the school was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2014 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, according to the press release.