The 500 Festival Princess Program is a prestigious initiative that selects outstanding young women from the local community to represent the spirit of the Indianapolis 500. This year Greenwood is well-represented with the selection of Adelle Burkhardt, a 21-year-old junior at Notre Dame, and Madison Ramsey, a senior at Grace College.
Ramsey is no stranger to hard work. With graduation and a wedding both on the horizon, she has a packed schedule, yet she embraces each opportunity with enthusiasm and gratitude. “I feel so blessed more than anything,” she says. “I don’t see this as a to-do list. I see every event as a new opportunity to make connections, meet people and have an impact.”
She first learned about the 500 Festival Princess Program through a high school friend. Initially assuming it was a pageant, she soon realized it was more about community engagement, leadership and service – values that resonated deeply with her. She says her friend’s passion for the race and the festival program inspired her to apply.
Burkhardt’s journey to becoming a 500 Festival Princess began long before her selection. Growing up in Greenwood, she attended several Indy 500 events and was captivated by the princesses who participated in the festivities. “I remember when they came to my grade school and I was so inspired by what they represented,” she says. “Seeing how they engaged with the community made me realize I wanted to be part of that experience.”
As part of her duties, Burkhardt is enthusiastic about engaging in community outreach, a key program requirement. “I’ll be visiting local schools in Greenwood and South Bend, talking to students about the Indy 500,” she says. Burkhardt hopes to inspire young minds by integrating her background in engineering into the discussions, particularly the STEM fields. “I really want to get kids excited about not just the race, but also about exploring career paths in STEM,” she says.
Ramsey has enthusiastically taken on the role of 500 Festival Princess. She has already spoken to the gymnastics team at New Palestine High School, promoting the festival program, higher education and the importance of leadership. She’s also planned outreach programs with local schools, including a homeschool group and an elementary school in Greenwood.
Both Burkhardt and Ramsey had the privilege of meeting their fellow princesses during the program’s orientation. “Meeting the other young women was an amazing experience,” Burkhardt says. “They inspire me with their diverse backgrounds and shared commitment to serving our community.” Each participant brings unique perspectives and aspirations, reflecting the diversity of our community. Ramsey is excited about the learning opportunities this diversity presents as they embark on this journey together.
With aspirations of making a mark in aerospace engineering, Burkhardt’s dream job involves working on space telescope systems. Images from the Hubble and James Webb telescopes have fascinated her since childhood. “We have so many unknowns about our universe and I want to be part of discovering them,” she says.
With her graduation from Grace College approaching, Ramsey is preparing for the next chapter of her life. She’s studying childhood and family counseling, with plans to earn her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Eventually she hopes to pursue a doctorate and become a clinical neuropsychologist.
