Festive Highlights from THE MORGAN HILL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL

 The Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival embodies more than just a two-day, fun fest for local residents and our Bay Area neighbors. The real reason for all the fungus-eating and fun(gi)-making is giving back to the community. The Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc. is a charitable, non-profit organization; every dollar above and beyond the cost of putting on the festival goes towards scholarships to seniors who live within the boundaries of the Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD), mini grants to elementary and middle schools in the MHUSD and donations to non-profit clubs and organizations that participate in the festival.  

The Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc. began awarding scholarships in 1984. For the past forty-one years, over 1500 students have been awarded scholarships, totaling almost $2 million dollars for continuing education. Any senior living in the Morgan Hill Unified School District, including private schools, Central High School and the Morgan Hill Adult School are eligible to apply for a scholarship to continue their education.  

Scholarship recipients are selected based on a combination of academic performance, community and school service and need. In addition, one of the scholarship recipients will receive an additional memorial scholarship in honor and memory of our festival’s founding Father, Brad Spencer.   

In 2026, The scholarship committee, headed by Edie Adkins, Scholarship Coordinator on the Board of Directors screened and interviewed students in early April.  Thanks to our sponsors, supporters and donors, the Board of Directors is excited to hand out (35) scholarships to seniors at Live Oak High School, Sobrato High School seniors and two (2) to Central High School for 2025.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s scholarship recipients: 

FROM SOBRATO - Abhik Gudapuri, Ythka Thai, Sharon Diaz, Eisha Kaur  Galsinh, Haley Le, Alivia Irvine, Mikaylee Forbes, Nia Desmet, Jacob Mutobe,  Taryn Tsuji, Alivia Irvine, Maya De La Cruz, Rebekah Latin, Orin Barua, Ellen  Ruskin, Samantha Hansen, Keiry Iniguez, Salma Tlaxcalteco, Margaret Halliday  & Sadie Kepler. 

FROM LIVE OAK - Anden Rogers, Samuel Ellingson, Lesly Franco, Seth  Hendersen, Kayla Tulolwitzki, Tyler Lang, Khanh Cao, Jack Spinella, Phoebe  Gerhardt, Addison Styzyski, Lilah Altamirano, Brayden Larrus, Sophia Saade  & Alondra Villanueva-Aleman. 

FROM CENTRAL - Anthony Guzman & Adrienne Montoya 

Family, relatives and friends, and the general public are invited to meet our outstanding scholarship recipients each year at 1:30pm at the Community Center Amphitheater Stage on the Sunday of the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival.  Many of these star students will also roam around the festival as Goodwill Ambassadors.           

For more information on the scholarship program or any of these services, please contact the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc. office at (408) 858-8694.

SCHOOL GROUPS AND NON-PROFIT CLUBS & ORGANIZATION SUPPORT!

The Mushroom Festival invites local, non-profit organizations & clubs to participate in the Festival by providing discounts for booth space and/or donations for on-site assistance. The Mushroom Mardi Gras has paid approximately $20,000 per year, to non-profit, school clubs and organizations for their on-site support.