Priya Patel
IU Dental Student Is Indy 500 Festival Princess
It’s off to the races – and many other places – for IU dental student Priya
Patel.
Patel has a whirlwind May lined up – while she’s busy hitting the textbooks
and then sitting for her finals as a member of the DDS Class of 2011, she’ll
also be playing a high-profile role in the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Patel, an Indianapolis native, is one of the 33 Hoosier women who have been
chosen as 2008’s Indy 500 Festival Princesses. As such, she’ll serve as an
ambassador for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 and all of
the festivities that surround the race.
The 33 women earned their place in the court through their communication
skills, poise, academic performance, and community and volunteer involvement.
They were chosen from a pool of 263 applicants. Princesses must be single
Indiana residents between the ages of 19 and 23 and enrolled as full-time
students in an accredited Indiana college or university.
There’s a lot more to being an Indy 500 princess than wearing ball gowns and
riding in convertibles. While the princesses are best known for their
appearances in the Indy 500 parade and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
pre-race ceremony, Victory Circle celebration, and post-race awards banquet,
they also participate in many other events and volunteer programs throughout the
month of May and perform statewide community outreach programs of their
choosing.
"These events and volunteer programs offer me a chance to interact with
people of various ages and backgrounds, and I’m thoroughly enjoying each
opportunity," says Patel, who has already participated in a few events in
April." I am especially looking forward to the Chase 500 Festival Kids' Day,
since I used to go every year when I was little. I think it will be a great
chance to give back to the community."
Outreach programs are designed by each princess. "Because this year’s 500
Festival princesses represent 12 Indiana colleges and universities and 20 cities
and towns, we are able to reach out to a lot of people across Indiana," says
Patel, who has chosen as one of her outreach opportunities to volunteer at Riley
Children’s Hospital on the IU Medical Center.
"I will interact with the kids and read them storybooks about the Indy 500,
pass out Indy 500 posters and trading cards, and play with them," says Patel.
"The reason I chose Riley Hospital is because I think every child, irrespective
of their health status, should have the chance to love and embrace all that life
has to offer. Besides that, what little boy or girl doesn't like playing with
toy racecars?!"
Patel isn’t the first member of her family to serve as a 500 Festival princess.
Her sister, Shreya Patel, who is currently in her 4th year of dental
school at IU, was a princess in 2005.
April 29, 2008