2023 500 Festival Princesses
The 2023 500 Festival Princesses represented 19 Indiana colleges and universities and 21 cities and towns across the state. With a cumulative GPA of 3.71, this class was selected from hundreds of applicants based on communication skills, academic performance, community involvement, commitment to service, and leadership.
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 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 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, 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 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 the 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.
500 Festival Queen Scholar Award
In 2015, the 500 Festival added a $1,000 scholarship for each of the 33 500 Festival Princess selected to the program, made possible by the 500 Festival Foundation and Marlyne Sexton, an Indianapolis philanthropist and president of the Sexton Companies. Prior to 2015, only the woman selected as the 500 Festival Queen Scholar received a scholarship. In 2019, Marlyne Sexton made a generous commitment to the 500 Festival Foundation to establish a fund enduring that scholarships for all 33 500 Festival Princess will be covered in perpetuity.
Past 500 Festival Queen Scholars