BNP Paribas awards $20K college grants to local students

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) - BNP Paribas awarded $20,000 college grants to 10 local students at a special event on Thursday.

The 11th Annual BNP Paribas Open Awards were held Thursday morning at La Quinta High School.

Recipients were overjoyed to receive the money and said that being rewarded for their hard work is an amazing feeling. 

Logan Crabtree, Stephanie Kochel, Ethan Miller and Perla Lopez Palomares of La Quinta High School, Jose Luis Palacios Morales and Evelyn Rios of Shadow Hills High School, Edgar Avila Fuentes and Isabella Partida-Lopez of Coachella Valley High School and Sinai Beltran and Angel Diarte-Salomon of Desert Mirage High School were awarded the grant money.

"Wherever our students choose to go, this is going to help them substantially offset the cost, possibly not take out a student loan, which is in the long run a tremendous benefit for the for the families," said Gregg O’Mara, La Quinta High School Principal.

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.

"BNP Paribas has always believed that tennis has a positive impact beyond the court. For a decade, we have been immensely proud to support high-achieving students in the Coachella Valley who display a passion for tennis,'' CEO of BNP Paribas Jose Placido said in a statement.

This year, the annual scholarship program increased from 4 local students to 10 as the bank reaffirms its commitment to tennis and supporting the Coachella Valley community.

"The 2026 scholarship winners demonstrate that the positive impact of tennis extends beyond the court. It is wonderful to see BNP Paribas increase the number of scholarships this year and reaffirm its commitment to supporting talented young leaders in the Coachella Valley community,'' Peggy Michel, assistant tournament director of BNP Paribas, said in a statement.   

Superintendent of Desert Sands Unified School District Kelly May-Vollmar expressed her delight for the students saying, "I am also proud of the 10 students who earned this year's BNP Paribas Open Scholarship Awards through their academic success, community involvement and dedication to tennis.''