Friday, March 03, 2006
Two USI students are 500 Festival Princesses
 Two USI students, Jeanette Schafer and Chelsea Wright, have been selected as 500 Festival Princesses, ambassadors for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500. The princesses attend 500 Festival events and volunteer programs throughout the month of May, in addition to performing statewide community outreach programs of their choosing. In addition, they are present at various Indianapolis Motor Speedway functions and participate in the Indianapolis 500 Victory Circle celebration. There were 282 applicants to the princess program. The first set of interviews (two four-minute interviews with three judges in each room) narrowed the field to 66. The second set of interviews (two more four-minute interviews with eight judges in each room) narrowed the selection to 33 princesses. Wright said, “I’m going to be reaching out to the community and explaining what the 500 Festival offers the state of Indiana. I’m going to be speaking to elementary schools and youth groups as well.” The princesses will promote 500 Festival Week, May 21-28, including events such as 500 Festival Kid’s Day, 500 Festival Community Day, and the 500 Festival Parade. They participated in orientation in February, learning about the culture and history of the Indianapolis 500, and will travel there for events throughout March and April. “It’s just an overall great experience,” Wright said. “I’m meeting girls from all over Indiana, getting information from behind the scenes of the Indy 500, and learning what it means to the state of Indiana.” A business administration major, Wright is treasurer of Colleges against Cancer and a member of Speaking Eagles, USI’s student chapter of Toastmasters. She is a graduate of Central High School. Schafer, a graduate of LaPorte High School in LaPorte, Indiana, saw the princess application in the Office of Student Development programs, where she works with the AMIGO program. The nursing major also is a student ambassador and a resident assistant on the Nursing and Health Professions floor in Ruston Hall. “I’m really excited about it because I’ve always been open to meeting new people,” she said. One of the 33 princesses will be selected as the 2006 500 Festival Queen and receive a $2,500 scholarship. The queen will be crowned May 20 during the 500 Festival Mayors Breakfast at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For more information about the 500 Festival, go to www.500festival.com. |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.