Pictured, from left, Matthew and Michael Reed, GGM students and models for winning artwork, Elyas Aguinaga, GCM student and Best of Show Winner, and Tiffany Guy, GCCISD School Board Vice President. Photo by Carrie Pryor-Newman.
By: Nancy Bonds, Director of Communications
Goose Creek CISD proudly celebrated its talented visual art students during the annual Rodeo Art Reception. This year’s event highlighted the commitment, creativity, and skill of student artists across the district who participated in the prestigious Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Competition.
Dr. Ray Lavan, Director of Fine Arts, remarked during the reception, “This evening is a celebration of all the hard work, skill, and dedication of our visual art students and teachers, as well as the arts as a whole. The arts are the purest expression of the human condition, providing opportunities for our students to accelerate toward a bright future where anything is possible.”
The program included recognition of various award categories, with blue, red, and white ribbons representing district-level winners and teal ribbons designating finalists advancing to the next round of judging at the NRG Center. Among the most prestigious honors were the Gold Medal, Best in Show, and Special Merit awards, with the winners’ artwork displayed in the Hayloft Gallery at NRG.
Adding to the excitement, Goose Creek CISD concluded spring break on a high note at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Auction, where two exceptional student artists from Goose Creek Memorial High School showcased their award-winning pieces.
Elyas Aguinaga poses with his Best of Show artwork that sold for $15,000 at the HLSRS Art Auction.
Elyas Aguinaga, a 10th-grade student and Best of Show winner, captivated the audience with his piece, “Midnight Stare-Down,” which sold for an impressive $15,000 at auction. Marco Alvarez, a 12th-grade Gold Medal recipient, saw his artwork, “The Bluebell Junction,” auctioned for an extraordinary $20,000, representing a $5,000 increase from his first auction sale in 2024. These achievements reflect the remarkable talent and continued growth of our student artists, and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication to their craft.
Highlights from the 2025 Rodeo Art Awards:
Director’s Choice Award Winners
High School: Harley Evink, 12th grade, RSS (Teacher: Annie Watson)
Junior School: Joseph Mendoza, 8th grade, Highlands (Teacher: Cathy Leija)
Elementary: Emily West, 5th grade, Highlands Elementary (Teacher: Mindi Garzoria)
Superintendent’s Choice Award Winners
High School: Abbigayle Garcia, 12th Grade, RSS (Teacher: Annie Watson)
Junior School: Aaleya Castillo, 7th grade, EF Green (Teacher: Rachel Deleon)
Elementary: Ester Centeno, 5th grade, Highlands Elementary (Teacher: Mindi Garzoria)
Gold Medal Winners
Elementary: Sa’Von Green, 5th Grade, Crockett (Teacher: Felecia Young)
Junior School: Azalea Barboza, 8th Grade, Highlands (Teacher: Cathy Leija)
High School:
Genaro Silva, 12th Grade, GCM (Teacher: Johnna Morris)
Marco Alvarez, 12th Grade, GCM (Teacher: Johnna Morris)
Best of Show Winners
Elementary: Alina Valladares, 5th Grade, Pumphrey (Teacher: Sonja Pelton-Sam)
Junior School: Guadalupe Torres, 8th Grade, Highlands (Teacher: Cathy Leija)
High School: Elyas Aguinaga, 10th Grade, GCM (Teacher: Britney Russell)
Special Merit Winner
High School: CheyAnne Pittman, 11th Grade, RSS (Teacher: Annie Watson)
