500 Festival Princesses include 3 women from Vigo County

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INDIANAPOLIS  –  Three local women have been selected to represent Vigo County as this year's Indianapolis 500 Festival Princesses.

Marriah McKillop, Terre Haute, a graduate of Terre Haute South Vigo High School and a junior at Butler University majoring in communication sciences and disorders.
 
Emma Kathryn McMurtry, Terre Haute, a graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School and a junior at Hanover College majoring in history and communication.
 
Margaret Mary McMurtry, Terre Haute, a graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School and a senior at the University of Saint Francis majoring in psychology and exercise science.

The three were selected from hundreds of applicants, along with others representing 14 Indiana colleges and universities and 22 cities and towns across the state. They were chosen for the program based on communication skills, academic performance, community involvement, commitment to service and leadership.

Each Princess will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The 500 Festival Queen Scholar, to be announced on Saturday, May 16 during the 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship.

In addition to scholarships, participants can expect to build leadership experiences and professional opportunities.

"The program ensures each participant an empowering experience with opportunities to make a profound impact on their community and state,” said Kathy Cabello, 500 Festival board member and Princess Program committee co-chair. 

​Princesses are provided with unique experiences.

They will be involved in many activities, including the 500 Festival’s statewide community outreach programs, volunteering at 500 Festival events and participating in various Indianapolis Motor Speedway functions --  including the pre-race ceremonies and Victory Circle celebration for the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

The 500 Festival Princess Program has a long history of celebrating Indiana’s most civic-minded, academically driven young women. 

Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is one of the largest festivals in the nation. The event draws an annual crowd of more than half a million people. Since its founding, the 500 Festival has contributed more than $500 million in economic value to Indianapolis,  according to a press release.

The 2020 500 Festival Princesses represent a diverse group of women with 26 different fields of study ranging from education to software engineering to journalism to biochemistry. Princesses are selected in a competitive process consisting of a written application and two rounds of interviews, according to information provided about the non profit organization, which celebrates the legacy of the Indianapolis 500.
 
Support of the 500 Festival Princess Program is provided by: Reis-Nichols Jewelers, BKD, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Vera Bradley, the 500 Festival Foundation, and Marlyne Sexton.
 
To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit www.500festival.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.