LEAGUE CITY – A total of 11 student artists across Clear Creek ISD have been selected as District Winners in the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Program competition.
According to a CCISD press release, the District submitted 55 total pieces for preliminary judging by the Rodeo committee. There were then three Best of Show winners, four Gold Medal winners and four Special Merit winners chosen from elementary to high school.


The artwork will be displayed in the Hayloft Gallery, located on the first floor of NRG Center, during the Houston Rodeo from March 2-22, 2026. Those moving on to the Rodeo’s School Art Auction, which is the culmination of the competition, will be announced in mid-February.
For more than 50 years, the School Art Program has challenged students and schools to think outside the box. The goal is to promote an awareness of agriculture and Western heritage. The subject matter for all artwork entered must depict the West’s heritage, lifestyle and historical and present-day landscapes.
The following students advanced in the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Program:
| Student Name | Campus | Art Teacher | Grade | Award | Title |
| Alexander Graun | Clear Brook HS | Jeff Samp | 11 | Best of Show | Cowboy’s Gaze |
| Katie Carter | Clear Springs HS | Elizabeth Welch | 11 | Gold Medal | The Dipping Vat |
| Gabriella Liwanag | Clear Creek HS | Travis Garner | 10 | Gold Medal | Cherry |
| Elle Bryan | Clear Brook HS | Jeff Samp | 11 | Special Merit | Scotch |
| Lily Makepeace | Clear Falls HS | Nina Makepeace | 11 | Special Merit | Cowgirl Blues |
| Kaya Hill | Clear Lake HS | Peter Storms | 9 | Special Merit | Rodeo Feast |
| Mairin McElroy | League City Int. | Eboni Johnson | 8 | Best of Show | Lunchtime |
| Amberly Tran | Westbrook Int. | Jamie Presley | 8 | Gold Medal | Roaming the Meadows |
| Jaimie Zhang | Westbrook Int. | Roger Rudek | 7 | Special Merit | An Evening in the Bluebonnets |
| Mia Slade | Hyde | Esther Robbins | 1 | Best of Show | The Sunset Cactus |
| Bennett Goss | Armand Bayou | Nichole Gilmore | 2 | Gold Medal | Snakey Art |
Photo courtesy: Clear Creek ISD







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