Greenwood woman selected as 2026 500 Festival Queen Scholar

GREENWOOD, Ind. -  The 500 Festival named Hailey Ready of Greenwood as the 2026 500 Festival Queen Scholar. The announcement was made during the 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by CHA, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Ready is a senior at Marian University, pursuing a degree in Biology and English. She is actively involved in the Marian Knight Drama Club, has held multiple leadership roles at The Fioretti, Marian’s literary journal, and spends her free time volunteering at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Indianapolis Zoo.  

Hailey is one of 33 Indiana college-aged women selected for this year's 500 Festival Princess Program, presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis, in which they serve as ambassadors for the 500 Festival, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, their hometowns, and their colleges and universities.

Serving as a 500 Festival Princess plays a vital role in fulfilling the 500 Festival’s mission to create a positive impact on Indianapolis. It gives the women the chance to experience the Month of May by educating Hoosiers about the iconic history of the 500 Festival through the statewide outreach program, celebrating the spirit of the Indianapolis 500, and serving their communities. 

Each 500 Festival Princess received a $1,500 scholarship, made possible by The Sexton Companies, and a custom pendant from Khamis Fine Jewelers. 

As the 500 Festival Queen Scholar, Ready is the recipient of an additional $1,500 educational scholarship, provided by McDonald's. She will wear the one-of-a-kind "500 Festival Queen Scholar’s Crown" at 500 Festival events and the Indianapolis 500, and participate in a variety of activities throughout the week.