Diné College Students Nominated for Prestigious Pushcart Prize
5th December 2024
TSAILE, Ariz. – Diné College is proud to announce that two Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing students, Natasha Endito and Shannel Garcia, have been nominated for the 2024 Pushcart Prize. Endito’s creative nonfiction piece, “Grandma’s Garden,” and Garcia’s poem, “Home,” both featured in the Chapter House Journal’s summer 2024 issue, received the high honor.
“It’s a huge honor to be recognized for a Pushcart Prize,” said Endito. “Grandma’s Garden is a deeply personal story, and it means so much to have my work resonate with others.”
Founded in 1976, the Pushcart Prize celebrates the best work published in small presses and literary journals. Nominations are highly competitive, with each participating publication allowed to nominate only a limited number of works. Recognition as a Pushcart nominee highlights writers’ talent and potential for broader literary success.
The nominated works appeared in the Chapter House Journal, an online literary publication affiliated with the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Low Residency MFA Creative Writing Program. The journal is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Indigenous and marginalized communities in genres such as poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction, and screenwriting.
Garcia reflected on her nomination, stating, “This nomination inspires me to continue writing and sharing my story as a Diné woman. It’s a moment I’ll carry with me forever.”
The nominations showcase Diné College’s commitment to fostering Indigenous voices and creativity, paving the way for future generations of writers to make their mark on the literary world.
