Cedar Falls Student Is Iowa Winner in Google Drawing Contest - Help Her Become the National Winner

Alexis Zaugg would like to visit the time of the dinosaurs.

At least, that's what she wrote as a description for a drawing she submitted to Google's Doodle contest.

Alexis, 10, is a fifth grader at . She was selected as the state winner for Iowa in the contest, which asked students to design a Google logo inspired by the theme "If I could travel in time, I'd visit..."

Along with 49 other young artists, Alexis was selected from more than 114,000 students who submitted entries to the contest this year.

“Oh we’re excited for her. It’s just a fun opportunity for her school and her and even her art teacher,” Alexis’s mom, Nancy Zaugg, said. “It’s just really kind of overwhelming and unexpected.”

Alexis's Doodle, titled Dinosaur Days, is now in the running to be the national winner - which is where you come in. Starting today, the public will be able to vote for their favorite doodle from the 50 state winners. Google will then choose one national winner from the five national finalists selected by the public.

You can vote for Alexis's Doodle, and see the Doodles of the other finalists, here. Voting is open through May 10.

If she wins, Alexis gets more than bragging rights, and so does Southdale. The winning student will take home a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for her school.

Additionally, the winner's doodle will be displayed on the Google homepage on May 18, as well as on a special edition of Crayola’s 64-box.

On May 17, 2012, all 50 state winners will be invited to an awards ceremony at Google's New York City office, where the national winner will be announced. All 50 state winners will have their doodle displayed in a special exhibit at the New York Public Library.

The artwork of Iowa’s finalists will be exhibited at the Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater in Des Moines during the summer.