Previous winning designs, available from Pendleton’s American Indian College Fund collection of wool blankets.
Submissions for the sixth annual Tribal College Blanket Design Contest, hosted by American Indian College Fund and Pendleton Woolen Mills, are open from now until January 15, 2026.
 
 
The contest seeks to elevate the work of prospective artists attending tribal colleges and universities, according to a press release.

 

The first-place winner will have their design distributed on Pendleton products internationally, with the top three designers also receiving scholarships and cash prizes. The winning design from each year is added to Pendleton’sAmerican Indian College Fund collection of wool blankets.

Native American and Alaska Native students attending a tribal college or university are eligible to submit up to two designs.

American Indian College Fund and Pendleton launched the contest in 2019. Past winners included: Jenabah Yazzie (Diné); Deshawna Anderson (Crow Nation, White Mountain Apache); Chelysa Owens-Cyr (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Dakota Sioux/ Pasqua First Nations Cree Nations); Trey Blackhaw (Winnebago); Dustin Lopez  (Diné/Laguna Pueblo/Pascua Yaqui); Troy Tso (Diné).

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“We are deeply honored that the students choose to share their artwork with us, and we remain humbled by the opportunity to help amplify their voices within their communities and beyond,” Pendleton Vice President of Sales and Maerking Bob Christnacht said in a statement. “Each student’s design is a reflection of personal story and heritage, and we are grateful to play a part in honoring their artistry and supporting their lasting legacy.”

The American Indian College Fund has been supporting higher education for Native American students for more than three decades.

Since 1995, Pendleton has partnered with the fund, providing more than $1.5 million in scholarship support for American Indian and Alaska Native students attending tribal colleges and universities, the press release said.

Submission guidelines and applications are available on the College Fund’s website at https://collegefund.org/pendleton. Formal artistic study and textile design experience are not required. Contest design winners are selected each year by a committee comprised of Native American artists and College Fund and Pendleton staff.

Prizes for the 2025 contest winners include:

Grand Prize Winner

  • $5,000 scholarship
  • $2,000 cash
  • Six blankets

Second Place Winner

  • $2,500 scholarship
  • $500 cash

Third Place Winner

  • $1,500 scholarship
  • $250 cash