3 Blanson CTE High School Students Selected for Rodeo Houston’s Quick Draw Contest

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Posing (l-r) are Lemay Cacheiro, Christian Abrajan, and Tolani Awe.

Three Blanson Career and Technical Education (CTE) High School students have earned a spot in one of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s most competitive fine arts events — the Quick Draw Contest. Students Christian Abrajan, Tolani Awe, and Lemay Cacheiro were selected from thousands of submissions across the Houston area.

The contest, scheduled for Dec. 13, 2025, at NRG Center, challenges students to complete a black-and-white sketch of a live model under tight time constraints. High school competitors receive 50 minutes and an 8.5-by-11-inch sheet of paper to create either a portrait or a full-figure drawing using approved drawing tools such as charcoal, a 3B pencil, or a black Prismacolor pencil.

Kaileigh Newman, Aldine ISD’s director of visual arts, said the students’ selection reflects both their talent and their dedication to the arts.

“This is an incredible achievement for Christian, Tolani, and Lemay,” Newman said. “Being chosen from such a large pool of entries is a testament to their hard work, creativity, and the strong visual arts program at Blanson. We are proud to see them represent Aldine ISD on such a respected stage.”

The Houston Rodeo Quick Draw Contest has two divisions: still life for junior high students and portrait or full-figure drawing for high school students. Awards range from $100 to $1,000 for the top four high school artists.

Last year, Blanson alumna Yahaira Yañes won the Reserve Class Champion (2nd Place) title in the full-figure drawing. In a presentation reflecting on her experience, Yañes described the event as intense but exhilarating — from the rapid registration process to the moment artists take their seats in the contest hall.

“When the time starts, you draw away,” Yahaira shared. “I remember stressing and telling my family to go home because I had no confidence in it, but I ended up placing second.”

Her success has inspired the next group of Blanson competitors, who have been practicing techniques such as proportion sketching, drawing figures from the bottom up, and adding clean shadows for definition.
Newman said she is proud of the students and grateful for the opportunity they have.

“Opportunities like this allow our students to shine and to see their potential beyond the classroom,” Newman said. “We know they’ll make Aldine proud.”

The district congratulates Abrajan, Awe, and Cacheiro as they prepare for the December competition.