SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

 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 thirty-five years, over 1200 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 2024, The five-member scholarship committee, headed by Ron Woolf, Treasurer of the Board screened and interviewed students in early April.  Thanks to our sponsors, supporters and donors, the Board of Directors is excited to hand out (24) scholarships with ten (10) to Live Oak, (12) to Sobrato High School seniors and two (2) to Central High School for 2024.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s scholarship recipients: Sofia Barreras, Andrew Burbank, Daniela Colorado, Faith Fernandez, Stella Gaudy, Rachel Hoge, Veronica Howard, Zijie Kuang, Hannah Lara, Aidan Last, Paola Ledesma, Benjamin Ledwith, Nolan Ledwith, Gabriela Martinez, Lilian Martinez, Alyssa Mendoza, Lina Mateos Mungaray, Veronica Orozco, Jennifer Ramirez Rivera, Jocelyn Ramirez Rivera, Cristal Carmona Robles, Zachary Rocha, Roma Shah, Jasreen Toor. 

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 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) 778-1786.

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.  In the past, The Mushroom Mardi Gras has paid approximately $18,000 – $22,000 per year, to non-profit clubs and organizations for their on-site work.  Also, any funds raised from non-profit vendors, are entirely those organizations to keep.