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

 

FULL LIST OF PAST QUEENS