Three young women from Hamilton County have been chosen to serve as 2018 500 Festival Princesses. The 500 Festival is a nonprofit providing events and programs celebrating the legacy of the Indianapolis 500. It selects 33 college-aged women from across the state who exemplify leadership, academics and civic duty.
“They really look for women who are leaders in the community,” said Natalie Cole, a 2015 graduate of Westfield High School who is among the2018 Princesses. “They want us to be civic-minded, have interview skills, personify professionalism, ambition and work ethic.”
The participants are expected to set up and attend community outreach events.
“It’s my job by the end of May to have completed four outreach events and attended several others with other princesses,” said fellow Princess Natalie Murdock, a Fishers resident and 2016 graduate of University High School.
The Princess group is tight-knit.
“We got to meet some of the other girls and hear all the things they’re doing in their communities,” said Princess Alexis Skelton, 2014 Westfield High School graduate. “These are some incredible young women.”
500 Festival Princesses have to work to balance school along with participation requirements.
“We all are very organized and we’re helping each other stay on top of things,” Cole said. “It’s about service, getting out in the community and trying to touch people’s lives.”
Murdock shares the enthusiasm.
“It’s a blessing because I have the platform as a Princess to serve my community on an even larger scale,” Murdock said. “I just feel so blessed.”
Skelton is excited to encourage other women.
“Giving the opportunity to have an even bigger platform to encourage women in our community that they can do big things, I’m super-excited,” she said.
For more, visit 500festival.com/princessprogram.
