American Indian College Fund and Pendleton Woolen Mills launch contest for student blanket design

The American Indian College Fund and heritage brand Pendleton Woolen Mills have announced the opening of submissions for the sixth annual Tribal College Blanket Design Contest. This opportunity is open to Native American and Alaska Native students enrolled at tribal colleges or universities, who may submit up to two original designs. The submission deadline is January 15, 2026.

The College Fund, recognized as the nations largest organization supporting Native higher education for over 35 years, collaborates with Pendleton Woolen Mills, a company known for creating high-quality lifestyle products with enduring style.

Montana students have historically performed well in the contest. Since its start in 2019, two winners have come from Montana tribal colleges. Notable past winners include Jenabah Yazzie, who designed the Infinite Prayer blanket in 2024, produced by Pendleton Woolen Mills.

Earlier winners include Deshawna Anderson from Little Big Horn College, whose Courage to Bloom blanket won in 2020, and Chelysa Owens-Cyr from Fort Peck Community College, who received the award in 2021 for her Unity Blanket. Owens-Cyr later collaborated with Pendleton to create jigsaw puzzles featuring her design and worked with Nike N7 in November 2024.

Bob Christnacht of Pendleton Woolen Mills highlighted the significance of this partnership: We are deeply honored that students choose to share their artwork with us. Each design reflects personal heritage, and we are proud to help honor their artistry and support their legacy.

The contest aims to elevate the work of emerging artists at tribal colleges. The first-place design is distributed internationally, while the top three winners receive scholarships and cash awards. Each years winning design joins Pendletons American Indian College Fund collection of wool blankets.

Pendleton has supported the College Fund since 1995, contributing over $1.5 million in scholarships for Native students attending tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). TCUs play a vital role in providing access to higher education, career pathways, and Indigenous knowledge, often serving students in remote or reservation communities.

The blanket design contest further supports these students while highlighting Native art, culture, and storytelling. Submission guidelines and applications can be found on the College Fund website at https://collegefund.org/pendleton. No formal artistic or textile design experience is required. Winners are selected annually by a panel of Native artists alongside College Fund and Pendleton staff.

Prizes for the 2025 contest include scholarships and cash awards for the top designs.

Author’s Commentary: Elevating Native Student Art Through the Tribal College Blanket Contest

The sixth annual Tribal College Blanket Design Contest opens a vital platform for Native American and Alaska Native students to showcase their creativity. With submissions accepted until January 15, 2026, this initiative strengthens the visibility of Indigenous artistry in mainstream markets.

The partnership between the American Indian College Fund and Pendleton Woolen Mills continues to highlight the impact of collaboration between education and industry. Students not only gain recognition but also practical opportunities, such as scholarships, cash awards, and international distribution of their work.

Past winners demonstrate the contest’s long-term influence. Artists like Jenabah Yazzie and Chelysa Owens-Cyr have leveraged their designs into broader creative collaborations, underscoring how this program nurtures emerging Native talent. Montana tribal colleges, in particular, have a strong track record of producing winning designs.

By supporting this contest, Pendleton and the College Fund reinforce the role of tribal colleges in providing access to higher education, career pathways, and preservation of Indigenous culture. This initiative goes beyond art—it is a tangible investment in student futures and cultural legacy.

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• American Indian College Fund and Pendleton Woolen Mills open student blanket design contest