INDIANAPOLIS (May 16, 2025) – The 500 Festival announced Hailey Ready of Greenwood, Indiana, as the 2026 500 Festival Queen Scholar. The announcement was made during the 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by CHA, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier today. 

Hailey is a senior at Marian University and is pursuing a degree in Biology and English. She is actively involved in the Marian Knight Drama Club, has held multiple leadership roles at The Fioretti, Marian’s literary journal, and spends her free time volunteering at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Indianapolis Zoo.  

Hailey is one of 33 Indiana college-aged women selected for the 2026 500 Festival Princess Program, presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis, in which they serve as ambassadors for the 500 Festival, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, their hometowns, and their colleges and universities. Serving as a 500 Festival Princess plays a vital role in fulfilling the 500 Festival’s mission to create a positive impact on Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. These Princesses have had the chance to experience the Month of May in a special way, by educating Hoosiers about the iconic history of the 500 Festival through the statewide outreach program, celebrating the spirit of the Indianapolis 500, and serving their communities. 

Each 500 Festival Princess received a $1,500 scholarship, made possible by the late Marlyne Sexton, an Indianapolis philanthropist and president of The Sexton Companies, whose legacy of generosity continues through the 500 Festival Foundation. In addition, each 500 Festival Princess is gifted a custom pendant, courtesy of Khamis Fine Jewelers. 

When asked to reflect on how she has intentionally chosen to lead during her time as a Princess and the impact she hopes to leave through her service, Hailey shared a personal example that reflects her commitment to connection, storytelling, and community pride, stating, “At my first outreach, a girl said, ‘I thought there was nothing special about Indiana, but now I know about the Indianapolis 500!’ The sentence sounded so familiar. There are lots of cool things in Indiana. We talked about the race, the festival, the Children’s Museum, and the zoo. Moving forward as a princess, I imagine myself continuing to lead through making these connections I love, whether that’s through Hero Cards that remind kids how important they are; Welcome Letters to spread Indiana pride; or my exhibit about Women in Motorsports. I want more people to feel like I did at six: comfortable stepping out of their shell, sharing in connection and community, and recognizing that being in Indiana, especially during the 500, is something uniquely special.” 

As the 500 Festival Queen Scholar, Hailey is the recipient of an additional $1,500 educational scholarship, generously provided by McDonalds. She will wear the one-of-a-kind 500 Festival Queen Scholar’s crown at 500 Festival events and the Indianapolis 500 and participate in a variety of activities throughout the week, including the Indianapolis 500 pre-race and Victory Circle celebrations. She will continue to represent the 500 Festival at various functions throughout the year.  

The 2026 Princess class represents 19 Indiana colleges and universities and 21 cities and towns across the state. With a cumulative GPA of 3.75, 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.  

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

To learn more about the 500 Festival Princess Program, presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis, please visit 500festival.com/Princess or search #PrincessProgram on social media.   

Photos from today’s Queen Scholar announcement will be available here.*

Photos from today’s Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by CHA, can be found here.*

*Please allow some time for more photos to be added.