The Arizona Mushroom Society is proud to announce that the 2026 Dr. Chester Leathers Student Scholarship has been awarded to five students engaged in the study of mycology in an Arizona college or university this year! 

This year the scholarship award was $2000 per award for graduate students and a $500 award for undergraduate students.

This scholarship is a valuable opportunity for the Arizona Mushroom Society to support individuals pursuing the study of mycology in Arizona and to honor Arizona Mushroom Club founder and mycologist, Dr. Chester Leathers. 

This year's scholarship awards go to...

Andrew Henning

Andrew is a PhD student in Biology at Northern Arizona University. He is studying secondary metabolites that can be used to fight against bark beetles that are introducing tree-killing fungi in California and Arizona.

Ariana Brown

Ariana is getting her Masters of Science in Biology at Northern Arizona University. Her research focuses on developing a gene preparation process using CRISPR to address the urgent need to expand Valley Fever (Coccidioides) research in Arizona by improving the efficiency and accessibility of genetic manipulation.

Eduardo Gutierrez

Eduardo, or Guti as he is called, is a graduate student working on lichens of the Sonoran Desert with Dr. Frank Bungartz of Arizona State University. As part of efforts to support an Inventory of lichenized fungi in Madera Canyon, his work will include re-examining common lichens with fresh samples and DNA sequencing to see if they are genetically unique. He plans to make his work on Arizona lichens more accessible to the public by developing an illustrative field guide for lichen species in Madera Canyon.

Laura Nicholson

Laura is a PhD student  in Earth Sciences & Environmental Sustainability at Northern Arizona University. She studies the presence and effects of Biscogniauxia mediterranea as a new pathogenic fungus in AZ and its effects on Emory Oak and whether fungal endophyte diversity plays a role in plant defense. She is also looking into the effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi on plant defense and resilience to drought and wildfire.

Bryce Fields

Bryce is an undergraduate student at Northern Arizona University. He is studying algae-fungal interactions in soil as part of Professors Nancy Johnson and Catherine Gehrings’ research efforts.