Plano third-grader reaches Google Doodle national finals, only Texas finalist

Plano ISD third-grader David Bae of Skaggs Elementary reached the national finals in Google’s Doodle for Google contest as the only Texas student in the five finalist field, putting a $10,000 college scholarship and a Chromebook within reach before public voting closes April 29.

The surprise announcement came Thursday, April 16, at Skaggs Elementary in Plano, where Bae was celebrated by family members, classmates, school staff, district leaders and Plano Mayor John Muns. For a third grader, the moment turned a classroom art project into a national recognition event, with the school gym and hallways filled by the kind of support usually reserved for major athletic or academic milestones.

Bae’s doodle, titled Slow and Steady Wins the Peak, was created for this year’s theme, My superpower is... The piece centers on endurance, persistence and the idea that steady effort can help a student, and a community, reach higher ground. In a contest built around student creativity, Bae’s work rose from thousands of submissions to one of just five national finalist spots.

The 2025-26 competition marks a change in the annual contest format. Instead of a single finalist, Google selected five national finalists, each of whom receives a $10,000 scholarship and a Chromebook. The national winner will receive an additional $45,000 scholarship and a $50,000 technology package for the winner’s school, giving the final vote real stakes for both the student and the campus that backed him.

Google opened submissions for this cycle from Oct. 15, 2025, through Dec. 10, 2025, and Bae’s work now appears on the contest page as the final round plays out. The winner will be announced in May.

For Plano ISD, Bae’s run offers a bright public moment for a district that often sees its students recognized in academics, arts and athletics. For Skaggs Elementary, it is a chance to see a third grader’s idea travel far beyond Collin County, carrying the name of the school, the district and Plano itself onto a national stage.