Feel Good: Tomball Memorial High School Student Earns First Place Nationally in Design Drafting Competition

Feel Good: Tomball Memorial High School Student Earns First Place Nationally in Design Drafting Competition

Tomball Memorial High School senior Danilo Bouche earned first place nationally in the 2025–2026 Design Drafting Competition sponsored by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Education Foundation.

Danilo’s project advanced through three levels of competition, first earning first place through NAWIC Houston Chapter #3, followed by first place in the South-Central Region, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. His design then advanced to the national competition, where it was selected as the first-place high school entry in the nation.

“I’d never thought I’d make it this far,” Danilo said. “When I looked at my project as I submitted it, I thought it was too simple and average to really get anywhere.”

More than three months after submitting his project, Danilo learned of his national win when he walked into his Practicum of Architecture class.

“I won national?” Danilo recalled. “Oh really?! That’s cool.”

The competition challenged students to design a one-story home for the fictional Smith family, consisting of two parents and three children. Students were provided a site plan and specific design criteria, including an office and storage room for Mrs. Smith, an interior designer; display cases for Mr. Smith’s collection of 1/16-scale John Deere tractor models; and a study with two computers.

Danilo developed his design using Revit, beginning with rough sketches on paper before translating his ideas into a digital model. His submission included multiple architectural drawings, a perspective drawing and a 400–500-word narrative describing the design features.

Among the features Danilo was most proud of was the home’s detached garage, which allowed him to meet the two-car garage requirement while maximizing the home’s conditioned square footage. He also incorporated a butler’s pantry between the kitchen, dining room, living room and foyer.

For Danilo’s architecture teacher, Mr. McDonell, the national recognition reflects the dedication and attention to detail Danilo has demonstrated since joining the CTE Pathway back in the eighth grade.

“Danilo is extremely intent on details,” McDonell said. “He remains focused on a problem until he reaches a satisfactory solution. He quietly does his research to enhance his understanding.”

Now in his fourth year at TMHS, Danilo has consistently excelled academically while developing his technical skills and knowledge of the field.

The competition requires students to carefully follow specific criteria while demonstrating creativity and strong communication skills. Entries are judged by architects and construction professionals at each level of competition.

“This gives our students the opportunity to shine and excel in front of licensed architects,” McDonell said. “Firms look for young talent they can follow through universities, internships and employment opportunities.”

Danilo’s accomplishment continues a strong tradition in the TMHS Architecture Pathway, which has produced a national finalist in each of the previous three years.

CTE and What’s Next

Looking ahead, Danilo hopes to continue studying architecture in college and build on the skills and experience he has gained through the TMHS Architecture Pathway.

“I’m proud of my achievement. I hope to continue architecture in college,” Danilo said.

Danilo’s national recognition highlights the opportunities available to Tomball ISD students through Career and Technical Education (CTE), where students develop technical skills, explore career pathways and apply their learning through real-world experiences and competitions.