The tenth annual BNP Paribas Open Scholarships were awarded today to Indio High School students Nicholas Aguirre, Ashley Beltran, Jessica Ramirez and Noriel Sanchez. In recognition of their outstanding achievements and efforts on the tennis court, in the classroom and in their communities, each student receives a $20,000 college grant and will be recognized during an on-court presentation on Stadium 1 at the BNP Paribas Open during the evening session on Wednesday, March 12.

“Tennis instills many admirable qualities in a person including pushing oneself to perform better and remaining committed,” said José Placido, CEO of BNP Paribas USA and CIB Americas. “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 10th 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.”

“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,” said Peggy Michel, Assistant Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open. “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.”

The BNP Paribas Open Scholarships were established in 2016 by title sponsor BNP Paribas as part of their commitment to positively impacting the local Coachella Valley community. Since their inception, BNP Paribas has awarded more than $500,000 in total to deserving local students.

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.