The 500 Festival is honored to announce the 33 remarkable Indiana women selected to serve as 500 Festival Princesses throughout their 2025 season. The Princesses represent 17 Indiana colleges and universities and 20 cities across the state. This year’s Princesses were selected from hundreds of applicants for their academic excellence, community engagement, exceptional leadership, and immense pride in their Hoosier heritage. With a cumulative GPA of 3.70, this year’s class showcases a diverse group of women with a wide range of academic endeavors, including nursing, biomedical engineering, and criminal justice.  

The 500 Festival Princess Program, presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis, has a longstanding tradition of recognizing Indiana’s most community-driven and scholarly-minded young women. As 500 Festival Princesses, these women will have the chance to develop their professional skills, create meaningful connections statewide, and receive leadership guidance from the 500 Festival Board of Directors. They play a significant role in advancing the 500 Festival’s mission of fostering a positive and lasting impact on Indianapolis and the state of Indiana while celebrating the legacy of the Indianapolis 500.  

Princesses will have the opportunity to experience the Month of May in a unique and impactful way by educating Hoosiers about the rich history of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 through statewide outreach, serving their communities, and celebrating the iconic spirit of the Indianapolis 500, impacting over 50,000 Hoosiers through more than 1,500 hours of community service. Their outreach efforts will include partnering with organizations they are passionate about, visiting local schools and hospitals, and attending community events.  

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

The 2025 500 Festival Princesses, hometown, high school, college or university, and area of study are as follows (in alphabetical order). Individual and group photos can be downloaded HERE. 

Maria Ayala (Indianapolis) – graduate of Perry Meridian High School, and a freshman at Marian University majoring in elementary education. 

Claire Bishop (Pendleton) – graduate of Greenfield-Central High School, and a sophomore at Purdue University majoring in brain and behavioral sciences, strategic communications and public relations.  

Zoe Brock (Richmond) – graduate of Richmond High School, and a junior at Ball State University majoring in strategic communication. 

Adelle Burkhardt (Greenwood) – graduate of Roncalli High School, and a junior at The University of Notre Dame majoring in aerospace engineering.  

Emily Campagna (Indianapolis) – graduate of North Central High School, and a junior at Indiana University majoring in political science.  

Valliei Chandrakumar (Carmel) – graduate of Carmel High School, and a senior at Indiana University Indianapolis majoring in nursing.  

Hannah Cooper (Indianapolis) – graduate of Southport High School, and a senior at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington majoring in radiation therapy.  

Holly DeLong (Noblesville) – graduate of Noblesville High School, and a senior at Indiana University majoring in marketing. 

Suzy Head (Mooresville) – graduate of Mooresville High School, and a junior at Indiana State University majoring in intelligence analysis.  

Kylie Heagy (Zionsville) – graduate of Zionsville Community High School, and a senior at Indiana University Indianapolis majoring in applied data science.  

Molly Henderson (Kokomo) – graduate of Kokomo High School, and a senior at Ball State University majoring in communication studies.  

Reetika Hogade (Indianapolis) – graduate of Franklin Central High School, and a sophomore at Purdue University majoring in biomedical engineering.  

Mya Miller (Shoals) – graduate of Springs Valley High School, and a senior at Indiana University majoring in human biology. 

Jaliyah Minka (Indianapolis) – graduate of Lawrence Central High School, and a junior at Purdue University majoring in cybersecurity.  

Chelsea Murdock (Fishers) – graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School, and a sophomore at Ball State University majoring in secondary English education. 

Anjali Natarajan (Zionsville) – graduate of Carmel High School, and a senior at Purdue University majoring in biomedical health sciences. 

Alice O’Brien (Indianapolis) – graduate of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, and a sophomore at The University of Notre Dame majoring in business analytics. 

Lilly O’Shea (Valparaiso) – graduate of Valparaiso High School, and a first-year medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine. 

Madison Ramsey (Greenwood) – graduate of Greenwood Community High School, and a senior at Grace College majoring in counseling.  

Anastasia Reinholt (Lebanon) – graduate of University High School of Indiana, and a senior at Butler University majoring in finance.  

Natalie Restivo (Plainfield) – graduate of Plainfield High School, and a sophomore at The University of Southern Indiana majoring in nursing.  

Libby Rogers (Peru) – graduate of Peru High School, and a senior at Saint Mary’s College majoring in economics and humanistic studies.  

Ava Rose (Terre Haute) – graduate of Terre Haute South Vigo High School, and a junior at Purdue University majoring in speech, language and hearing sciences.  

Laura Shupe (Westfield) – graduate of Westfield High School, and a sophomore at Butler University majoring in healthcare and business. 

Lauren Silcox (Greenfield) – graduate of Greenfield-Central High School, and a junior at Indiana University majoring in anthropology. 

Kara Simison (Alexandria) – graduate of Alexandria-Monroe High School, and a junior at Indiana Wesleyan University majoring in marketing and business administration.  

Alexxys Standish (Kentland) – graduate of South Newton High School, and a senior at Indiana University majoring in Kinesiology. 

Megan Tennell (Franklin) – graduate of Franklin Community High School, and a first-year law student at Indiana University Indianapolis Robert H. McKinney School of Law.  

Macie Troyer (Kokomo) – graduate of Eastern High School, and a sophomore at Indiana University Kokomo majoring in elementary education. 

Piper Watkins (Plainfield) – graduate of Plainfield High School, and a junior at Indiana State University majoring in public relations, digital communication and media.  

Alyssa Welsh (Union Mills) – graduate of South Central Community School, and a sophomore at Purdue University Northwest majoring in communications.  

Vicky Zheng (Batesville) – graduate of Batesville High School, and a junior at Purdue University majoring in biomedical health sciences.  

Sara Zink (Indianapolis) – graduate of Franklin Central High School, and a junior at Ball State University majoring in media promotion and management.  

“We are honored to welcome this year’s class of 500 Festival Princesses and look forward to the impact they will have on Indiana communities as they represent the 500 Festival,” said Bob Bryant, 500 Festival president and CEO. “We are confident these women will leave a lasting impact on their college campuses and communities, create meaningful memories, and gain invaluable networking experiences as 500 Festival Princesses.” 

The 500 Festival Princess Program is supported by The National Bank of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the 500 Festival Foundation. Each princess will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship, generously provided by Marlyne Sexton, philanthropist and president of The Sexton Companies, in partnership with the 500 Festival Foundation. Khamis Fine Jewelers, the proud and official partner of the program, will present each princess with a custom pendant necklace featuring a checkered outline of the state of Indiana and an INDYCAR design, symbolizing the iconic May festivities surrounding the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. 

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