Ambassadors will represent 500 Festival and the 2012 Indianapolis 500®   

INDIANAPOLIS (March 5, 2012) – Thirty-three young women from across Indiana have been selected to serve in the 2012 500 Festival Princess Program.

Becoming a 500 Festival Princess is an experience of a lifetime. As ambassadors of the 500 Festival, the 2012 Indianapolis 500® and their hometowns, the princesses will attend and volunteer at 500 Festival events and programs throughout the month of May. In addition, the 33 princesses will be involved with statewide outreach programs of their choosing. Princesses are also present at various Indianapolis Motor Speedway® functions and participate in the Indianapolis 500® Victory Circle celebration.

This year’s 500 Festival princesses represent 13 Indiana colleges and universities and 21 cities and towns across the state. The young women were selected from 274 applicants based on communication skills, poise, academic performance and community and volunteer involvement.

Applicants must be between 18 and 23 years old, single and legal residents of Indiana. Candidates must also be full-time students in a fully-accredited Indiana college or university and must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. This year’s princesses have a cumulative grade point average of 3.44.

Sponsors for the 500 Festival Princess Program include G.Thrapp Jewelers, WTHR-TV 13 and Indiana Blood Center. Apparel and accessory providers include The Secret Ingredient, Indianapolis Motor Speedway® and Vera Bradley.

The 2012 500 Festival Princesses, Indiana hometown, college or university and area of study are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Taylor Adams, Indianapolis, Purdue University (Class of 2013), majoring in Public Relations and Advertising

Kathryn Balch, Terre Haute, Indiana State University (Class of 2014), majoring in Finance

Alexandra Blackwell, Zionsville, Indiana University (Class of 2013), majoring in Communications

Emily Boaz, Carmel, Saint Mary’s College (Class of 2013), majoring in History

Emily Bohannon, Indianapolis, IUPUI (Class of 2012), majoring in Criminal Justice

Lia Burrell, West Lafayette, Purdue University (Class of 2012), majoring in Business Management

Kari Castetter, Noblesville, Ball State University (Class of 2012), majoring in Nursing

Molly Clark, Carmel, Butler University (Class of 2014), majoring in Elementary Education

Brittany Davis, Zionsville, Purdue University (Class of 2013), majoring in Public Relations and Advertising

Samantha Ellison, Indianapolis, Ball State University (Class of 2013), majoring in Gender Studies

Jessica Haggard, Martinsville, Franklin College (Class of 2013), majoring in Elementary Education

Monica Harvey, New Palestine, Purdue University (Class of 2012), majoring in Economics

Rajpreet Heir, Indianapolis, DePauw University (Class of 2012), majoring in English Writing

Rene Hendrickson, Brookston, Purdue University (Class of 2012), majoring in Spanish

Emily Johnston, Zionsville, Indiana University (Class of 2013), majoring in Elementary Education

Kelly Kasting, Greenwood, Purdue University (Class of 2013), majoring in Nursing

Hope Knowling, Crawfordsville, Taylor University (Class of 2013), majoring in Social Studies Education

Jessica Linxwiler, Greenwood, Indiana University (Class of 2012), majoring in Journalism

Allison Marchesani, Indianapolis, University of Notre Dame (Class of 2012), majoring in Economics and Poverty Studies

Taylor Martin, Tipton, Indiana University (Class of 2012), majoring in Applied Health Science

Meredith McKay, Indianapolis, Indiana University (Class of 2014), majoring in Business

Amber Mills, Bluffton, IUPUI (Class of 2014), majoring in Interior Design Technology

Michelle Natalie, Clinton, University of Indianapolis (Class of 2012), majoring in Human Biology and Pre-Physical Therapy

Kelsey Phillips, Chesterton, Indiana University (Class of 2013), majoring in Finance

Audrey Putnam, Bristol, Purdue University (Class of 2013), majoring in Management

Madeline Reith, Brownsburg, University of Southern Indiana (Class of 2013), majoring in Business Marketing

Emily Schaefer, Indianapolis, Ball State University (Class of 2012), majoring in Visual Communication

Cynthia Smith, Greenwood, IUPUI (Class of 2012), majoring in Tourism, Convention and Event Management

Jennifer Stebbins, Zionsville, Indiana University (Class of 2013), majoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences

Jessica Tharp, Switz City, Ball State University (Class of 2012), majoring in Journalism

Erika Tishner, Tipton, Ball State University (Graduate Student), Master of Architecture

Kendra Watkins, Indianapolis, Purdue University (Class of 2013), majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Brittany Winchester, Mooresville, Purdue University (Class of 2013), majoring in Interior Design

One of these young women will be selected as the 2012 500 Festival Queen and receive a $2,500 scholarship.The queen will be crowned May 19 during the 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by ProLiance Energy, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway®. Tickets for Breakfast at the Brickyard can be purchased by clicking here.  

To learn more about 500 Festival events and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.500festival.com, or contact the 500 Festival at (317) 927-3378.         

EDITOR’S NOTE: Individual and group photos can be viewed by clicking here.