BNP Paribas Announces Scholarships to Four Local California Indio High School Students in Its 10th Annual Scholarships Awards

Each Student Receives $20,000 College Grant Based on Scholastic & Athletic Achievements

Reconfirms the Bank’s Commitment to Tennis and Local Community Involvement

BNP Paribas, Europe’s leading financial institution and a global sponsor of tennis, today announces the winners of its 10^th annual BNP Paribas Open Scholarships to Nicholas Aguirre, Ashley Beltran, Jessica Ramirez, and Noriel Sanchez from the 2025 graduating class of Indio High School in Indio, California, not far from the tournament site.

This year’s scholarships are granted during the BNP Paribas Open and support each students' pursuit of higher education. In order to receive a scholarship, each recipient must meet stringent requirements including impressive academic accomplishments as well as a personal interest and commitment to tennis. Each student will be awarded a $20,000 college grant at a ceremony at their school on Wednesday, March 12, as well as being recognized during an on-court presentation at the BNP Paribas Open later that evening.

José Placido, CEO of BNP Paribas USA and CIB Americas, said: “Tennis instills many admirable qualities in a person including pushing oneself to perform better and remaining committed. BNP Paribas as a leading global bank firmly believes in these principles and we see it as essential to inspire these traits in others, especially in up-and-coming young tennis players. I’m incredibly happy to be a part of today’s activities and awarding for the 10^th year to these four bright, young students scholarships which will help them accomplish their own goals. A hearty congratulations to Nicholas, Ashley, Jessica, and Noriel who have more than exhibited admirable talent and focus both in the classroom as well as on the court.”

Peggy Michel, Assistant Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open, also added: “This year’s group of scholarship recipients are an exceptional group of students who have each shown remarkable dedication to excelling in the classroom, on the tennis court and in their local communities. As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of these scholarships, it is incredible to reflect on the impact that these awards have had on individuals in the Coachella Valley, and I applaud BNP Paribas for their ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in our community. Nicholas, Ashley, Jessica and Noriel – a well-deserved congratulations to each of you, we look forward to following your successes for years to come.”

Kelly May-Vollmar, Superintendent, Desert Sands Unified School District, said: “I am incredibly proud of the four Indio High School students who have earned the prestigious BNP Paribas Open scholarships. Their dedication on the court, in the classroom, and in their communities is inspiring. Congratulations to these deserving young leaders, and thank you to BNP Paribas for supporting local talent and investing in our students’ futures.”

Scholarship Winner Biographies

Nicholas Aguirre

Nicholas wants to study undergraduate and graduate school at University of California-Irvine and upon graduation, become a fully-licensed Accountant. He also has an interest in helping others and will apply his accounting expertise to helping under-privileged groups with their taxes. Nicholas has always pushed himself to take additional advanced classes outside of school and be involved with the school’s Renaissance excellence program, which includes community volunteering, as well as to become a member of the Varsity tennis team. He has maintained an excellent GPA after all this activity, including a 4.8 for the current semester.

Ashley Beltran

Ashley has a passion for learning and a drive to succeed. Her life’s goal is to attend the University of California where she would like to study Political Science and English, and would ultimately like to be elected a Congresswoman from California. Ashley is a proud first-generation Mexican-American and the first of her four siblings to attend high school, where she takes many Advanced Placement courses along with dual-registered classes at College of the Desert. Outside of school, she is involved with many organizations and clubs, including Reach Higher Club, Ophelia Project Program, and Girls Varsity Tennis where she is Captain of the team. Even with all these activities, Ashley maintains a 3.9 GPA.

Jessica Ramirez

During Jessica’s sophomore year, she traveled to Harvard University where she attended a mock trial workshop, which still inspires her to push herself and excel in many aspects of her life. Jessica stands out in the classroom with a 4.5 GPA, studying Geography, History and Math Honors. She has also won many awards including Girls Tennis DVL Singles Champion (2024-2025), Girls Tennis Singles MVP (2024-2025), and the Desert Sun newspaper’s Athlete of the Week, among many others. Jessica has been on the Honor Roll every quarter, awarded Student of the Month eight times, and achieved Summa Cum Laude with a cumulative 4.0 GPA. She is passionate about her volunteer work at Love & Love Tennis Foundation where she teaches young children how to play tennis.

Noriel Sanchez

Noriel’s goal is to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of California-Irvine or San Jose State University, after which, he wants to apply to NASA to become a scientist and collect data on different planets. His other passion is tennis and he would like to design a cutting-edge tennis racket to advance the game. Starting with his Junior year, Noriel became more involved with his studies, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, as well as becoming more involved in tennis and different clubs, including California Scholarship Foundation, Reach Higher, and Interact clubs.

About BNP Paribas and tennis

BNP Paribas is a major partner of world tennis, with a historic commitment that began in 1973 and applies to all levels of tennis around the world – singles, wheelchair tennis, team and family tennis – from beginners to the biggest professional tournaments.

• Professional tennis: Official sponsor of the French Open since 1973, Sponsor of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome), the Open 13 Provence in Marseille, the Moselle Open in Metz and the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm (ATP250), the Internationaux de Strasbourg (WTA500);
• Wheelchair tennis: Title partner of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup; partner of the French Riviera Open, the WJP Challenge Tennis and the Swiss Open Geneva;
• Junior and University tennis: Partner of the French Federation of University Sport and the BNP Paribas Master’U since 1993;
• Amateur tennis: Sponsor of the BNP Paribas Family Trophy and the National Tennis Cup and partner with numerous amateur tournaments supported by the bank around the world;
• Support for younger generations: BNP Paribas supports more than 160 young tennis and wheelchair tennis hopefuls in building their careers through its “Team BNP Paribas Jeunes Talents” programme in France (under the patronage of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in association with the FFT), the United States (with John and Patrick McEnroe), Belgium (under the patronage of Justine Henin) and Italy, Poland, Canada, Japan and Portugal. BNP Paribas has also been a partner in the selection of ball boys and girls at the French Open for 25 years.
• Solidarity-based tennis: A driver of social projects linked to tennis alongside more than 20 national tennis federations and dozens of charities, based on a conviction that tennis is an even better sport when it is collective and geared towards young people.
  • At the initiative of the “#FAAPointsForChange” programme in partnership with young Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime and the solidarity programme “Points For Change” for the inclusion of young generations through sport;
  • Partner CityParks Tennis charity in the United States. This program in New York City provides free tennis lessons to more than 6,000 children between the ages of six and 16 within the five boroughs of New York City. The program is active in more than 39 parks across the five boroughs, including the BNP Paribas Aces Tennis Program for advanced junior players. The Bank supports hundreds of other community tennis initiatives around the world.
• Sport in the workplace: The BNP Paribas internal tournament (We Are Tennis Cup) is one of the world’s leading corporate sporting events (3,500 participants each year with 2.5 million fans worldwide).
  • In 2011, BNP Paribas created wearetennis.com - a platform dedicated entirely to tennis news, providing a constant flow of information covering players and tournaments around the world;
  • The website and its associated social networks (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTube) underscore BNP Paribas’ commitment to the world of professional tennis.
• Also in the US, the Bank provides ongoing support toward the heritage and history of tennis through its sponsorship of the International Tennis Hall of Fame located in Newport, Rhode Island.

These various communications initiatives ensure that tennis is a fantastic vehicle for the brand image of BNP Paribas:

• In 2023, BNP Paribas was considered the leading sponsor of tennis in the minds of the French (31% spontaneous recognition, rising to 48% among tennis fans). Source: CSA/2023
• 58% of tennis fans believe that BNP Paribas’ partnership with tennis gives a better image of the brand. Source: CSA/2023
• 7/10 is the score given to BNP Paribas by those familiar with We Are Tennis (i.e. 73% of tennis fans). This is 1.2 points more than for all French people. Source: CSA/2023

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas is the European Union’s leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 63 countries and has nearly 183,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.

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