The 500 Festival announced today that Lauren Isaacs of Terre Haute was crowned the 2014 500 Festival Queen at the Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by ProLiance Energy, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway^®.

Isaacs is a junior at Purdue University where she is majoring in Communications. She is one of 33 young women who were selected for the 2014 500 Festival Princess Program, where they serve as ambassadors for the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500^®. She is a 2011 graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School and is the daughter of John and Lisa Isaacs.

Princess Patia {{Pay-SHA}} Storms of Brownsburg, a sophomore at Purdue University majoring in Finance and Management, and Princess Brittany Wagner of Monticello, a senior at Purdue University majoring in Pharmacy, were chosen as 2014 Princess Court members. Storms is the daughter of Robert and LuAnne Storms. Wagner is the daughter of David and Michelle Wagner.

The 500 Festival Queen and Princesses attend 500 Festival events and volunteer throughout the month of May. In addition, the 33 princesses are 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.

As 500 Festival Queen, Isaacs is the recipient of a $2,500 educational scholarship from the 500 Festival and WTHR-TV. In addition, Isaacs will wear a jeweled crown provided by G. Thrapp Jewelers at 500 Festival events and the Indianapolis 500^®. She will participate in a variety of appearances throughout the week and participate in the Indianapolis 500^® pre-race and Victory Circle celebrations. She will continue to represent the 500 Festival at various functions throughout the year.

The 500 Festival Princesses represent nine Indiana colleges and universities and 24 Hoosier cities and towns. The young women were selected from 230 applicants based on communication skills, poise, academic performance and community and volunteer involvement.

To be eligible for the 500 Festival Princess Program, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 23, single and legal residents of Indiana. Candidates must also be full-time students in a fully-accredited Indiana college or university and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. This year’s Princesses’ collective GPA is 3.379.

Sponsors of the 500 Festival Princess Program include G.Thrapp Jewelers and WTHR-TV. Apparel and accessory providers include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway^®, Vera Bradley, The Sanctuary on Penn and retro101.

Editor’s Notes:

Please click on the following names for individual photos of Lauren Isaacs, Patia Storms and Brittany Wagner.

To view a group photo of the 2014 500 Festival Princesses click here.

To download photos from today’s event, please visit https://www.500festival.com/programs/princess-program.            

The 500 Festival, a not-for-profit volunteer organization, was created in 1957 to organize civic events celebrating the greatest race in the world. Over the past 57 years, the 500 Festival has grown to become one of the largest festivals in the nation. The mission of the 500 Festival is to produce life-enriching events and programs while celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500^® and fostering positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. www.500festival.com