The 500 Festival announced Saturday that Allison Jacob of Indianapolis was crowned the 2013 500 Festival Queen at the Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by ProLiance Energy, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway®.
Jacob is a junior at Ball State University where she is majoring in Public Relations and Communication. She is one of 33 young women who were selected for the 2013 500 Festival Princess Program, where they serve as ambassadors for the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500®. She is a 2010 graduate of Lawrence Central High School and is the daughter of Gary and Karin Jacob.
Princess Bailey Farrer of Royal Center, a sophomore at Purdue University majoring in Animal Sciences, and Princess Marlie Mathis of Greenwood, a senior at IUPUI majoring in Nursing, were chosen as 2013 Princess Court members. Farrer is the daughter of Tom and Lisa Farrer. Mathis is the daughter of Christina Mathis.
The 500 Festival Queen and Princesses attend 500 Festival events and volunteer throughout the month of May. In addition, the 33 princesses are involved with statewide outreach programs of their choosing. Princesses are also present at various Indianapolis Motor Speedway® functions and participate in the Indianapolis 500® Victory Circle celebration.
As 500 Festival Queen, Jacob is the recipient of a $2,500 educational scholarship from the 500 Festival and WTHR-TV. In addition, Jacob will wear a jeweled crown provided by G. Thrapp Jewelers at 500 Festival events and the Indianapolis 500®. She will participate in a variety of appearances throughout the week and participate in the Indianapolis 500® pre-race and Victory Circle celebrations. She will continue to represent the 500 Festival at various functions throughout the year.
The 500 Festival Princesses represent nine Indiana colleges and universities and 21 Hoosier cities and towns. The young women were selected from 200 applicants based on communication skills, poise, academic performance and community and volunteer involvement.
To be eligible for the 500 Festival Princess Program, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 23, single and legal residents of Indiana. Candidates must also be full-time students in a fully-accredited Indiana college or university and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. This year's Princesses' collective GPA is 3.4.
