500 Festival Princess will lead and serve their communities, expanding the celebration and impact of the 500 Festival   

The 500 Festival today announces the 33 Indiana women selected to serve as 2023 500 Festival Princesses. The Princesses represent 19 Indiana colleges and universities and 21 cities and towns across the state. With a cumulative GPA of 3.71, this year’s 500 Festival Princesses were selected from hundreds of applicants based on leadership, academic stewardship, community involvement, and their embodiment of the Hoosier spirit. This year’s class represents a diverse group of women with a range of areas of study that include nursing, elementary education, business, engineering, sports media, and pre-med. 

The 500 Festival Princess Program, presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis, has a long history of celebrating Indiana’s most civic-minded, academically driven young women. While serving as a 500 Festival Princess, these women will be given many opportunities to grow professionally, gain mentorship, and leadership from the 500 Festival Board of Directors, and develop leadership skills within their communities.  

As representatives of the 500 Festival, the Princesses play a crucial role in the execution of the 500 Festival’s mission of enriching lives, while celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and fostering a positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. The Princesses will experience the Month of May in a unique way, serving their communities, including the 500 Festival’s statewide outreach program, which educates Hoosiers about the history of the 500 Festival and legacy of the Indianapolis 500.  

Each year, the Princesses conduct more than 1,500 hours of community outreach impacting more than 50,000 people, expanding the celebration and impact of the Indianapolis 500 in a meaningful way.  

The 500 Festival Princesses also participate in the 500 Festival Leadership Development Program, presented by FORVIS, which empowers participants to make a profound impact within their community and the state of Indiana. In addition, each Princess will receive a $1,000 scholarship, made possible by Marlyne Sexton, an Indianapolis philanthropist and president of The Sexton Companies, and the 500 Festival Foundation.   

As the official and exclusive jeweler of the 500 Festival Princess Program, Khamis Fine Jewelers will gift each 500 Festival Princess a custom pendant that incorporates a heart to symbolize the heart of a princess, an emerald to represent May’s birthstone, and a checkered flag to recognize the Indianapolis 500. 

“We are excited and eager to see the 2023 class of the Princess Program excel in community service and leadership opportunities throughout their hometowns and 500 Festival events,” said Bob Bryant, 500 Festival president and CEO. “These 33 young women will have an unforgettable experience, foster life-long friendships, and make meaningful connections throughout their communities and the state of Indiana.  

The 2023 500 Festival Princesses, hometown, high school, college or university, and area of study are as follows (in alphabetical order):  

Ellie Albin, Fishers, a graduate of Fishers High School, and a junior at Indiana University majoring in journalism. 

Gayle Baugh, Greencastle, a graduate of Cloverdale High School, and a junior at Vincennes majoring in elementary and special education. 

Shylah Beauchamp, Avon, a graduate of Avon High School, and a junior at the University of Indianapolis majoring in nursing. 

Ishita Bhedi, Indianapolis, a graduate of Birla Public School, Doha, Qatar, and a senior at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) majoring in biomedical engineering. 

Savannah Boneta, Fishers, a graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School, and a junior at Ball State University majoring in public relations. 

Julia Boston, Greenwood, a graduate of Center Grove High School, and a senior at Purdue University majoring in anthropology and history. 

Ryann Bowers, Zionsville, a graduate of Zionsville Community High School, and a senior at Purdue University majoring in brain and behavioral sciences, pre-medicine. 

Kendall Claymon, Carmel, a graduate of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, and a freshman at Purdue University majoring in biomedical health sciences, pre-dental. 

Lauren Coffey, Plainfield, a graduate of Plainfield High School, and a junior at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology majoring in chemical engineering. 

Mykah Coleman, Indianapolis, a graduate of Shortridge High School, and a junior at Marian University majoring in elementary education. 

Elaina Connell, Martinsville, a graduate of Indian Creek Senior High School, and a sophomore at Franklin College majoring in biomedical sciences on a pre-veterinary track. 

Darcie Cox, Roachdale, a graduate of North Putnam High School, and a sophomore at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, majoring in elementary education.  

Caitlyn Ebert, Greenwood, a graduate of Center Grove High School, and a senior at the University of Southern Indiana, majoring in graphic design. 

Meredith Fain, Greenwood, a graduate of Center Grove High School, and a junior at Indiana University majoring in computer science with a specialization in cybersecurity. 

Reagan Frank, Fishers, a graduate of Fishers High School, and a sophomore at Indiana University majoring in entrepreneurship, economic consulting, and business analytics.     

Grace Gliva, Brownsburg, a graduate of Tri-West High School, and a senior at DePauw University majoring in psychology and vocal performance. 

Seattle Greenwell, New Albany, a graduate of Indiana Connections Academy and a sophomore at Ball State University majoring in public relations and advocacy. 

Averie Jamison, Muncie, a graduate of Wes-Del High School, and a freshman at Ball State University majoring in sports media. 

Magdalene Joseph, Greenwood, a graduate of Center Grove High School, and a junior at Indiana Wesleyan University majoring in nursing. 

Ali Klein, Indianapolis, a graduate of Herron High School, and a senior at Indiana University majoring in nonprofit management and leadership. 

Jenna Nicodemus, McCordsville, a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School, and a senior at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) majoring in public health-epidemiology. 

Faith Odiete, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, now a current resident of Indianapolis, a graduate of Ben Davis High School, and a junior at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) majoring in criminal justice and public safety management. 

Hailee Pearson, Kokomo, a graduate of Western High School, and a senior at Purdue University Fort Wayne majoring in music therapy. 

Caroline Potts, Indianapolis, a graduate of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, and a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame majoring in biology and theology. 

Hannah Romero De Gante, Seymour, a graduate of Seymour High School, and a junior at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) majoring in health science. 

Ayesha Saeed, Fort Wayne, a graduate of Snider High School, and a junior at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) majoring in business management. 

Chloe Smith, Fishers, a graduate of Fishers High School, and a senior at Valparaiso University majoring in health science. 

Kyla Smith, Mooresville, a graduate of Plainfield High School, and a junior at Purdue University majoring in agronomy. 

Julia Sonntag, Brazil, a graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School, and a junior at Indiana State University majoring in insurance and risk management 

Mikayla Tom, Carmel, a graduate of Carmel High School, and a senior at Indiana University Kokomo majoring in business administration. 

Elizabeth Wetzel, Avon, a graduate of Avon High School, and a freshman at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College majoring in pre-art therapy, art, and psychology. 

Diamond Williams, Indianapolis, a graduate of Scecina Memorial High School, and a sophomore at Marian University majoring in nursing. 

Grace Worcester, Westfield, a graduate of St. Theodore Guerin Catholic High School, and a sophomore at Butler University majoring in sports media. 

The 2023 500 Festival Queen Scholar will be announced on Saturday, May 20, during the 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by Midwestern Engineers, Inc. The 500 Festival Queen Scholar will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship. 

To request a visit from a 500 Festival Princess, click HERE. 

Support for the 500 Festival Princess Program is provided by: The National Bank of Indianapolis, Marlyne Sexton, FORVIS, Khamis Fine Jewelers, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the 500 Festival Foundation. 

To learn more about the 500 Festival Princess Program, please visit 500Festival.com/Princess or search #PrincessProgram on social media.  

EDITOR’S NOTE: Individual and group photos can be downloaded HERE. 

About the 500 Festival 

Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces more than 50 life-enriching events and programs that celebrate the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and foster a positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. One of the largest festivals in the nation, each year more than half a million people attend an event or program produced by the 500 Festival. Since its founding, the 500 Festival has contributed more than $500 million in economic value to Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit www.500festival.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.