As a kid, Gracie Madison can recall going to the Indianapolis 500. With the roar of race cars speeding over 200 miles per hour and thousands of spectators, there are plenty of sights for a child to be captivated by. But while she was certainly excited by the race, something else truly captured her attention–the 500 Festival Princesses.
She was in awe how they always seemed to carry themselves with a sense of pride while being kind to everyone they met. Somehow, some way, she wanted to find herself in their shoes someday. This May, she finally got that chance.
Madison, a junior marketing, public relations and advertising major, was one of 33 young women across the state of Indiana to be chosen for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Festival Princess Program.
“It was really a full circle moment to get to attend the Indy 500 as a princess after having gone as a kid,” Madison said. “Seeing the Princesses (as a kid), they were exactly the kind of women I wanted to be when I grew up. Having the honor of being that role model for other kids was an unreal experience.”
When she found out she was chosen as one of the 2024 representatives, she said she was honestly, very surprised but extremely excited. Madison was selected from hundreds of applications based on outstanding leadership, academic stewardship, community involvement and embodiment of the Hoosier spirit.
She also received a $1,000 scholarship, made possible by Marlyne Sexton, an Indianapolis philanthropist and President of The Sexton Companies and the 500 Festival Foundation.
“I felt confident in my application and interviews, but there were lots of very impressive women in the running,” Madison said. “After going through the interview process, I knew it was something I really wanted to be a part of, so I was so excited to be selected. It was just a great feeling."
She credits the Romain College of Business and the University of Southern Indiana as a whole for helping her be chosen to participate as a 500 Festival Princess. From having the chance to study abroad in Spain to traveling to conferences with USI’s American Marketing Association chapter, all of those experiences have helped lead her to where she’s at on her career path today.
“I wouldn't be half the individual or future employee I am without the skills I gained from these opportunities. My interview skills, my networking, my interpersonal communication, my adaptability and my organizational skills are all attributed to my time here,” Madison said. “The people and opportunities here are truly one of a kind.”
As a 500 Festival Princess, Madison had the opportunity to participate in a variety of different community outreach programs and attended various events. She and the other 500 Festival Princesses visited nursing homes, participated in parades and, of course, had a front row seat to the Indianapolis 500, while also getting to take a lap around the track in a pace truck before the race.
But her favorite outreach activity was one she planned herself. She returned to her hometown of Montgomery, a small community in Daviess County, to speak to students at her former school, Barr-Reeve Elementary School. The entire school had done small Indy 500 lessons prior to her arrival and even decorated the school with race-themed decorations and art projects. It was a surreal experience to see that support where her journey first began.
“The whole experience was so special. Knowing they were so proud of what I'd accomplished and were willing to do that for me was priceless. There's truly no place like the small town I'm from,” Madison said. “I was able to show the kids that even a girl from a tiny school in southern Indiana can be a Princess and can accomplish whatever she chooses to do. I am so proud to be the first Princess from my hometown, and now hopefully, won't be the last.”
Overall, Madison believes the 500 Festival Princess Program helped her grow both personally and professionally. She had the chance to network with professionals in various career fields and learned an abundance about community relations and how to plan for outreach events. She was also able to meet many impactful people across the state of Indiana, some of whom have become connections and mentor figures.