MONTEREY MUSHROOMS AWARDS 36 SCHOLARSHIPS TO TEAMMATES’ CHILDREN FOR 2025-26 ACADEMIC YEAR
Monterey Mushrooms is excited to announce the awarding of $110,000 in scholarships to 36 children of its teammates for the 2025-26 academic year, continuing a 34-year tradition of supporting employees’ families in pursuing higher education.
Since 1992, the scholarship program has provided dependent children of full-time employees with the opportunity to receive up to $5,000 annually for four years. The initiative has impacted families across all company locations—including California, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Mexico—affirming the company’s ongoing commitment to cultivating the potential of tomorrow’s leaders.
This year, the program was renamed the Shah Kazemi Scholarship Foundation, honoring Monterey Mushrooms’ founder and former CEO and his enduring vision to invest in the next generation. Since its inception, the program has awarded 2,633 grants, totaling $4.1 million, in support of higher learning.
Paul Hardy, CEO of Monterey Mushrooms, commented, “At Monterey, our people are the heart of our company. It’s a privilege to celebrate the accomplishments of our teammates’ children and help open doors to their future success. We believe in the ability of education to transform lives—not only for these students, but for the families and communities they serve.”
Scholarships are awarded to students attending accredited colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic record, aspirations, extracurricular involvement, work experience, and personal achievements.
Sarah Alvarado, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania from Morgan Hill, is a recipient of the Shah Kazemi Scholarship, which is helping ease the financial burden on her family—particularly her father, who has worked over 20 years in agriculture at Monterey Mushrooms. Raised among the produce fields of her hometown, Sarah was deeply affected by the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival tragedy, fueling her passion for criminology and justice reform. With this scholarship, she is empowered to pursue her goal of graduating debt-free, attending law school, and ultimately serving as an FBI special agent. Sarah is determined to carry forward a legacy of hard work and service, using her education to uplift both herself and the communities she represents.
Education, as Shah Kazemi often said, is like an elevator — one that empowers young people to climb higher, pursue greater opportunities, and become the leaders and changemakers who will shape a brighter future. Monterey Mushrooms is proud to champion this vision and invest in tomorrow by supporting students today."
