Using the above Criteria, there will be several levels to the judging process, which are discussed below. There will be three (3) levels of judging that will result in finalists at each of the following levels: "State and Territory Winners", "National Finalists", and a "National Winner" as described in further detail below. For purposes of the state level judging, entries from students of foreign service abroad will be judged as coming from their home state.

Level One: State and Territory Winner Level

• Number of Winners Selected at this Level: 55

  • A total of fifty five (55) winners will be selected to advance forward as State and Territory winners in the contest (one (1) per state, at least ten (10) per grade group), as follows:

  • Each doodle in each grade group will be given a ranking from 1 to 55, 1 being the highest ranking, depending on the score that it received from independent Guest Judges and a Google committee.

  • Only one (1) Entrant from each state can move forward as a State or Territory Winner.

• Notification of Winners

  • State and Territory Winners will be notified on or before June 30th, 2024 by telephone or email.

  • In the event that there are no entries from a particular state or Grade Group, no award will be made for that state and/or Grade Group.

Level Two: National Finalist Level

• Number of Winners Selected at this Level: 5

• From among the 55 State and territory winners, total of five (5) national finalists will be selected, as follows:

  • The judging at this level will be comprised of two (2) components: (i) public voting via the Contest Site; and (ii) Google doodler artists. First, the public will vote on the Doodles. Online public voting will last for a period of 13 days, from May 22nd, 2024, 11:59pm PDT to June 4, 2024 11:59pm PDT. Actual date and times are subject to change without prior notice. At the completion of the public voting period, the panel of Google doodler artists along with the guest judges will consider the amount of votes that each of the 55 State and Territory Winners received, as well as the Criteria. They will then give each of the State and Territory Winners a score.

  • Notification of Winners

    • The top-five (5) State and Territory Winners will be named as "National Finalists".

• Level Three: National Winner Level

  • Number of Winners Selected at this Level: 1

    • By applying the Criteria, a panel of Google Employees will then choose one (1) National Winner from among the five (5) National Finalists.

• Tie-breaker: In the event of a tie at any level of judging, the judges will re-evaluate the tied doodles according to the Criteria until the tie is broken. The tied doodles will be put up for a re-vote amongst the judges at the respective level until the tie is broken.

• Decisions of the judges are final and binding. In the event there are not enough eligible entries, not all prizes will be awarded. If a potential winner is unable for whatever reason to accept their prize, then Google reserves the right to award the prize to another entrant.

• Notification of Finalists and Winners: Becoming a finalist is subject to validation and verification of eligibility and compliance with all the terms and conditions set forth in these Rules. If a potential finalist or winner is disqualified for any reason, the doodle that received the next highest total score will be chosen as the potential finalist or winner. The potential finalist(s) and winner(s) will be selected and notified by telephone and/or email, at Sponsor's discretion. If a potential finalist/winner does not respond to the notification attempt within three (3) days from the first notification attempt, then such potential finalist/winner may be disqualified and an alternate potential finalist/winner will be selected from among all eligible entries received based on the judging Criteria described herein. With respect to notification by telephone, such notification will be deemed given when the potential finalist/winner or potential finalist/winner's parent or guardian engages in a live conversation with Sponsor or when a message is left on the potential finalist/winner's voicemail service or answering machine by the Sponsor, whichever occurs first. Except where prohibited by law, each potential state finalist/winner may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and Publicity Release and provide any additional information that may be required by Sponsor. If required, potential finalists/winners must return all such required documents via fax (or as otherwise instructed) within forty-eight (48) hours and via U.S. Mail within seven (7) days following attempted notification or such potential finalist/winner will be deemed to have forfeited the prize and another potential finalist/winner may be selected based on the judging Criteria described herein. In the event that the potential finalists/winner submitted their entry online they should keep a hard copy of their final artwork. The winner may be required to mail in the original artwork for high resolution scanning. If the potential finalists/winner is unable to provide the original artwork within seven (7) days, the potential finalist/winners will be deemed to have forfeited the prize and another potential finalist/winner may be selected. In the event the potential finalist/winner is a minor, their parent or legal guardian must sign the documents and return them as described herein. All notification requirements, as well as other requirements within these Rules, will be strictly enforced. Determinations of Judges are final and binding. All potential finalists and the eventual winner, including their parent representatives, agree to keep the doodle strictly confidential between submission and the doodle's final launch on the Google website.

• PRIZES: The National Winner will win a $30,000 college scholarship (managed by Scholarship America) to be used at the school of their choice; $50,000 in value towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab or a technology program for the U.S. School where the Entrant is enrolled, or a registered non-profit of which the winner is a participant at as indicated on the Entry Form (homeschools and students of U.S. Foreign Service Person abroad are ineligible for the $50,000 technology award toward establishment/improvement of a computer lab). The National Winner's doodle will be placed on www.google.com by the end of 2023 in the United States for one day. If the National Winner is enrolled in a homeschool, the homeschool will receive a $5,000 technology stipend (issued in the form of a check), and the National Winner may donate $45,000 in value towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab or a technology program for a public library, non-profit, or public school in their community that meets Google's criteria for awards. All non-profits must be registered and official 501(c)(3) organizations. Google at its sole discretion may determine that an organization is ineligible to receive a prize. If an organization is determined to be not eligible, Entrant’s school may be considered.

• The four (4) National Finalists who do not become the National Winner will win a $5,000 college scholarship (managed by Scholarship America) to be used at the school of their choice, and a Chromebook (retail value approximately $244). The forty-nine (49) State and Territory Winners who did not become National Finalists win a Chromebook (retail value approximately $244).

• The time of the prize distribution will be provided to winners in the prize acceptance documents but will not be earlier than four (4) weeks from Sponsor's receipt of prize acceptance documents from winners. Winning scholarship prize will be paid to the college for the student's account. No transfer, substitution or cash equivalent for prizes is allowed, except at Sponsor's sole discretion. The winner shall bear all responsibility for use of the prize(s) in compliance with any conditions imposed by their school. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize, in whole or in part, of equal or greater monetary value if a prize cannot be awarded, in whole or in part, as described for any reason. Value is subject to market conditions, which can fluctuate and any difference between actual market value and actual retail value will not be awarded. The prize(s) may be subject to restrictions and/or licenses and may require additional hardware, software, service, or maintenance to use. The winner shall bear all responsibility for use of the prize(s) in compliance with any conditions imposed by such manufacturer(s), and any additional costs associated with its use, service, or maintenance. Sponsor has not made and is not responsible in any manner for any warranties, representations, or guarantees, express or implied, in fact or law, relating to the prize(s), regarding the use, value or enjoyment of the prize(s), including, without limitation, its quality, mechanical condition, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose, with the exception of any standard manufacturer's warranty that may apply to the prize or any components thereto.

• TAXES: AWARDS OF PRIZES TO POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SUBMIT TO GOOGLE ALL DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED BY GOOGLE TO PERMIT IT TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL TAX REPORTING. ALL PRIZES WILL BE NET OF ANY TAXES GOOGLE IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO WITHHOLD. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL TAXES IMPOSED ON PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS. In order to receive a prize, potential winners must submit tax documentation requested by Google or otherwise required by applicable law, to Google or a representative for Google or the relevant tax authority, all as determined by applicable law. The potential winner and finalists, and if the winner/finalist is a minor, their parents or legal guardians, are responsible for ensuring that they comply with all the applicable tax laws and filing requirements. If a potential winner fails to provide such documentation or comply with such laws, the prize may be forfeited and Google may, in its sole discretion, select an alternate potential winner.

• GENERAL CONDITIONS: All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Google reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant from the Contest if, in Google's sole discretion, it reasonably believes that the Entrant has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices or annoys, abuses, threatens or harasses any other entrants, Google, or the Judges.

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: As between Google and the Entrant, the Entrant retains ownership of all intellectual and industrial property rights (including moral rights) in and to the doodle (excluding Google's rights in the Google logo/trademark). As a condition of entry, Entrant grants Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, transferable, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, publish, distribute, publicly perform, create a derivative work from, and publicly display the doodle for any purpose, including display on the Google website, without any attribution or compensation to Entrant. Entries will not be returned. Google retains all rights in the Google products and services and entry into this Contest will in no case serve to transfer any Google intellectual property rights to the Entrant.

• PRIVACY: Entrants agree and acknowledge that personal data submitted with an entry, including name, mailing address, phone number, and email address may be collected, processed, stored and otherwise used by Google and its affiliates for the purposes of conducting and administering the Contest. All personal information that is collected from parents, guardians, teachers, non-profit leaders and after-school programs on behalf of Entrants is subject to Google's Privacy Policy, located at: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/. Individuals submitting personal information in connection with the Contest have the right to request access, review, rectification or deletion of any personal data held by Google in connection with the Contest by writing to Google at the following address: Privacy Matters, c/o Google LLC., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043.

• PUBLICITY: By entering the Contest, Entrants agree to participate in any media or promotional activity resulting from the Contest as reasonably requested by Google at Google's expense and agree and consent to use of their name and/or likeness by Google. Google will contact Entrants in advance of any Google-sponsored media request for interviews.

• The doodles may also be used for press and media purposes and Entrant agrees to waive any rights and not assert any intellectual property rights that Entrant has or may have in the doodle. Google reserves the right to publish the name and likeness of the Entrants with the top 55 scores, the Finalists and the Winner on the Contest Site or through other media for publicity purposes.

• WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY: Entrants warrant that their doodles are their own original work and, as such, they are the sole and exclusive owner and rights holder of the submitted doodle and that they have the right to submit the doodle in the Contest and grant all required licenses. Each Entrant agrees not to submit any doodle that: (a) infringes any third party proprietary rights, intellectual property rights, industrial property rights, personal or moral rights or any other rights, including without limitation, copyright, trademark, trade names, industrial designs, patent, trade secret, privacy, publicity or confidentiality obligations; or (b) otherwise violates applicable state, federal, or local law.

• To the maximum extent permitted by law, Entrant indemnifies and agrees to keep indemnified Sponsor at all times from and against any liability, claims, demands, losses, damages, costs and expenses resulting from any act, default or omission of the Entrant and/or a breach of any warranty set forth herein. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Entrant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor from and against any and all claims, actions, suits or proceedings, as well as any and all losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) arising out of or accruing from: (i) any doodle or other material uploaded or otherwise provided by Entrant that infringes any copyright, trademark, trade secret, trade dress, patent or other intellectual property right of any person or defames any person or violates their rights of publicity or privacy; (ii) any misrepresentation made by Entrant in connection with the Contest; (iii) any non-compliance by Entrant with these Rules; (iv) claims brought by persons or entities other than the parties to these Rules arising from or related to Entrant's involvement with the Contest; (v) acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in any Contest-related activity or participation in the Contest; (vi) any malfunction or other problem with the Contest Site in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant; (vii) any error in the collection, processing, or retention of entry or voting information in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant and in the voting process by consumers; or (viii) any typographical or other error in the printing, offering or announcement of any prize or winners in relation to the entry and participation in the Contest by Entrant.

• ELIMINATION: Any false information provided within the context of the Contest by Entrant concerning identity, mailing address, telephone number, email address, ownership of right or non-compliance with these Rules or the like may result in the immediate elimination of the entrant from the Contest.

• INTERNET AND DISCLAIMER: Google is not responsible for any malfunction of the entire Contest Site or any late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, undeliverable, or destroyed doodles or votes due to system errors, failed, incomplete or garbled computer or other telecommunication transmission malfunctions, hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, typographical or system/human errors and failures, technical malfunction(s) of any telephone network or lines, cable connections, satellite transmissions, servers or providers, or computer equipment, traffic congestion on the Internet or at the Contest Site, or any combination thereof, including other telecommunication, cable, digital or satellite malfunctions which may limit Entrant's/consumer's ability to participate/vote respectively. Google is not responsible for the policies, actions, or inactions of others, which might prevent Entrant from entering, participating, and/or claiming a prize in this Contest. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Rules will not constitute a waiver of that or any other provision. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify Entrants who violate the rules or interfere with this Contest in any manner. If an Entrant is disqualified, Sponsor reserves the right to terminate that Entrant's eligibility to participate in the Contest.

• RIGHT TO CANCEL, MODIFY OR DISQUALIFY: If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Contest, Google reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. Google further reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant who tampers with the submission process or any other part of the Contest or Contest Site. Any attempt by an Entrant to deliberately damage any web site, including the Contest Site, or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Google reserves the right to seek damages from any such Entrant to the fullest extent of the applicable law.

• NOT AN OFFER OR CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT: Under no circumstances shall the submission of a doodle into the Contest, the awarding of a prize, or anything in these Rules be construed as an offer or contract of employment with either Google, or the Contest Entities. Entrants acknowledge that they submitted their doodle voluntarily and not in confidence or in trust. Entrants acknowledge that no confidential, fiduciary, agency or other relationship or implied-in-fact contract now exists between Entrant and Google or the Contest Entities and that no such relationship is established by Entrant's submission of a doodle under these Rules.

• FORUM AND RECOURSE TO JUDICIAL PROCEDURES: These Rules shall be governed by, subject to, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States of America, excluding all conflict of law rules. If any provision(s) of these Rules are held to be invalid or unenforceable, all remaining provisions hereof will remain in full force and effect. To the extent permitted by law, the rights to litigate, seek injunctive relief or make any other recourse to judicial or any other procedure in case of disputes or claims resulting from or in connection with this Contest are hereby excluded, and Entrants expressly waive any and all such rights.

• ARBITRATION: By entering the Contest, you agree that exclusive jurisdiction for any dispute, claim, or demand related in any way to the Contest will be decided by binding arbitration. All disputes between you and Google of whatsoever kind or nature arising out of these Rules, shall be submitted to Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. ("JAMS") for binding arbitration under its rules then in effect in the San Jose, California, USA area, before one arbitrator to be mutually agreed upon by both parties. The parties agree to share equally in the arbitration costs incurred.

• WINNER'S LIST: You may access a list of the winners at any time by visiting the Doodle for Google website at https://doodles.google.com/d4g/.