The eighth annual BNP Paribas Open Scholarships were awarded on Saturday to Coachella Valley High School students Jose Arreola, Kamila Cortes Ramirez, Miguel Gonzalez and Nevaeh Robles. 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 on Saturday, March 16.

“Our clients trust us not only for our financial expertise but also for our unwavering commitment to social causes," said Jean-Yves Fillion, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors for BNP Paribas USA. "At the core of our business model is a dedication to giving back to the communities in which we operate. Today, we take great pride in reaffirming our support to Coachella Valley High School students through scholarship opportunities. Congratulations to Jose, Kamila, Miguel and Nevaeh who have displayed remarkable dedication both on the court and in the classroom. You optimize the future of tennis and we are confident your drive and compassion will leave an indelible mark in the college arena.”

“These scholarships serve as a compelling testament to the dedication of BNP Paribas in leveraging their partnership with the tournament to create a meaningful and positive influence across the Coachella Valley community," said Peggy Michel, Assistant Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open. "We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jose, Kamila, Miguel and Navaeh, the well-deserving recipients of these scholarships. We eagerly anticipate following their future accomplishments in the academic area and on the tennis court.”

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 $450,000 in total to deserving local students.

Jose Arreola
Jose has challenged himself academically by enrolling in Advanced Placement (AP), Concurrent Enrollment, and Dual Enrollment courses, all while maintaining a 4.3 grade point average (GPA), receiving Gold Level Recognition for a 4.0 GPA or above. Jose has been a member of the Varsity tennis team since 2022 as a doubles player and has encouraged several other young men from Coachella Valley High School to join the team as well. Jose has participated in extracurricular organizations including Friday Night Live Club as President and Ambassador, Youth Organization Council as a member, and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). He was also awarded Riverside Friday Night Live Youth Ambassadors Outstanding Youth Advocate Award for demonstrating leadership throughout Riverside County.

Kamila Cortes Ramirez
Kamila has enrolled in AP and Honors courses and is an AVID student with a 3.8 GPA. As a member of the Varsity tennis team and Varsity track and field team, Kamila has represented the school at state and divisional competitions, winning the Girls Varsity Tennis Desert Valley League and the Girls Varsity Track and Field Desert Valley League. She has taken all she has learned from her athletic experiences and shared it with young people at Mountain Vista Elementary School volunteering as an athletic coach four times a week teaching tennis, track, volleyball, and softball. In addition, she volunteered as a ball kid at the BNP Paribas Open and volunteers as a teacher at the Christ Gospel Long Beach Children’s Ministry. Kamila was recognized as a High Achiever and was awarded for her academic achievement.

Miguel Gonzalez
Miguel currently has a 3.6 GPA and is taking several AP and Honors courses. He is also a Certificate of Honor award winner as part of the Above and Beyond Art Internship program where he took ten classes focusing on digital media and design, then he used those skills to support a local business. Miguel has used his media experience for videography with the organization Raices and the Coachella Program where he participated in a three-month program to produce an installation for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. Since 2022, Miguel has been a member of the Varsity tennis team. He has also been involved in various community service initiatives including Friday Night Live, Youth Organization Council Alianza, and Coachella Unincorporated. Miguel was elected Associate Student Body President and Junior Class President.

Nevaeh Robles
Nevaeh is an AP and Honors student taking Dual Enrollment courses and maintains a 3.6 GPA. Nevaeh is an accomplished tennis player and member of the Varsity tennis team. She was recognized as the Most Valuable Player and for the 2023 season she played as Number One Singles player and was undefeated, winning the Desert Valley League. In previous seasons, Nevaeh was tennis Team Captain and played as Number One Doubles player. She is also a Snare player in the Marching Band performing at parades, events, and concerts. Neveah is active in her community. As part of S.O.S.A. Club she fundraised for social, cultural, and educational trips to enhance personal enrichment and is a senior representative for the Health Academy, completing 225 community services hours around health-focused initiatives.