10 Desert Students Win $20K Tennis Scholarships

When Stephanie Kochel got the phone call telling her she'd won a $20,000 scholarship, she thought it was a scam. The La Quinta High School senior and tennis team captain couldn't believe it was real until she stood at the ceremony with nine other Coachella Valley students who earned the same honor.

This year, European bank BNP Paribas more than doubled their typical scholarship awards, recognizing 10 high school tennis players from across the desert region. Four seniors from La Quinta High School celebrated together: Logan Crabtree, Stephanie Kochel, Perla Lopez Palomares, and Ethan Miller.

The remaining six scholarships went to students from three other local high schools. Jose Luis Palacios Morales and Evelyn Rios attend Shadow Hills High School, while Edgar Avila Fuentes and Isabella Partida-Lopez play for Coachella Valley High School, and Sinai Beltran and Angel Diarte-Salomon represent Desert Mirage High School.

For many of these students, tennis taught lessons that reached far beyond the court. Lopez Palomares joined her school's tennis team as a junior and earned both Most Improved Player and Sportsmanship awards, discovering that perseverance matters more than perfection.

During one match last season, a severe cramp forced her off the court early. Her first thought was that she'd let down her teammates, but her coach showed her a different perspective: she could still contribute by cheering and offering tips from the sidelines.

"Watching them from that perspective really bonded me with them," she said. Lopez Palomares plans to study biology or biochemistry and become a pharmaceutical developer, inspired by her parents and her faith.

The Ripple Effect

Kochel, who will graduate as her class valedictorian, hopes her journey opens doors for other young women pursuing careers in STEM and athletics. She plans to design luxury and sports cars in the automotive engineering industry.

"The hardest part about anything is starting, and you just have to keep showing up," she said. Her advice to younger students: keep doors open for yourself by trying new things, even when it feels intimidating.

Miller never expected tennis to do more than provide fun memories from high school. Now the JROTC squadron commander is heading to the U.S. Air Force Academy to study economics and pursue his dream of becoming a pilot, inspired by his grandfather.

"Without a doubt, if you're an open-minded person, you'll be so much further ahead," Miller said. His tennis coach, Jay Nettimi, encouraged him to pick up a racket for the first time, a decision that changed his educational trajectory.

All 10 scholarship winners were honored during an on-court presentation at the BNP Paribas Open, where they got to watch some of the world's top tennis players compete. Ten students, ten scholarships, and countless possibilities ahead.