The teens will save us all. This adorable Google Doodle is proof.

Some much needed hope for the future, from the future.
 By 
Katie Dupere
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Inclusion is the future — and this year's Doodle 4 Google winner knows it.

Sarah Harrison, a 15-year-old high school student from Connecticut, is the winner of the 2016-2017 Doodle 4 Google Contest. This year's competition, which launched in September 2016, tasked young artists in the U.S. with creating a doodle about what they see for the future.

Harrison's winning doodle, which was displayed on Google's homepage Friday, depicts children of various background embracing each other, all with wide smiles in the name of diversity. In the illustration, the children — who are of different races, genders and abilities — also wear identity-coded clothing displaying their non-visible identities, like religious beliefs and sexual orientation.

"I dream of a future where everyone is safe and accepted wherever they go, whoever they are."

Titled "A Peaceful Future," the doodle earned Harrison a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology award for her high school.

"My future is a world where we can all learn to love each other despite our religion, gender, race, ethnicity, or sexuality," Harrison told Google about her design. "I dream of a future where everyone is safe and accepted wherever they go, whoever they are."

Harrison isn't alone in her hopes for a more inclusive future. Social media users have been loving her message and artistic advocacy for inclusion.

The annual contest, which began nine years ago, allows students in grades K-12 to submit artwork to be featured on Google's homepage. The winner is chosen through public voting after submissions are narrowed down by a panel of noteworthy judges. This year's judges included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, musician Sia, late night host Jimmy Kimmel, and Pikachu (yes, really).

Harrison and four national finalists also received a trip to Google's headquarters, a Chromebook, and an Android tablet for coming out on top in their respective age groups. The other finalists will also receive a $5,000 college scholarship.

Many of the finalists' doodles touched on themes of social change and impact, including sustainability, identity inclusion and endangered species protection. Some much needed hope for the future, from the future.

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Katie Dupere

Katie Dupere was a Social Good reporter at Mashable from May 2015 to July 2017, covering activism, identities and social impact. Prior to her work with Mashable, Katie penned pieces about queerness, body positivity, sex and relationships for Gurl. She also previously contributed LGBTQ news coverage to PinkNews.

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