Building and celebrating a passion for community

The 500 Festival Princess Program celebrates Indiana’s most civic-minded and academically driven young women. For decades, exceptional female Purdue students have served as ambassadors of the 500 Festival, participating in service opportunities in their hometowns and Greater Lafayette in the lead-up to race day. In total, 33 princesses — matching the number of drivers in the Indy 500 — represent a variety of colleges and universities from across Indiana. Meet the five young Boilermakers representing Purdue as part of this year’s 500 Festival Princess Program. This story is part of a monthlong, behind-the-scenes look at Purdue’s storied history with the Indy 500.

Purdue at the Indy 500: Cieara Anderson is experiencing growth, spiritual enrichment through new friendships

I never thought that I would be in this position as part of the 500 Festival Princess Program.

Being from a small town, there’s not a whole lot of diversity. There wasn’t anybody that looked like me. I got pointed out a lot, and I just knew from a very early age I was not the same as everybody else.

Coming to Purdue, that was a really neat aspect — how diverse Purdue is. I just wanted to kind of immerse myself in that.

I think there’s something that you can learn from each princess in the 500 Festival Princess Program. And, of course, we have people who are a little bit more bubbly and people who are more to themselves. We have people who are gifted in this area and people who are gifted in that area. Having a wide range of women — you can learn something from everybody.

I just have a drive for building relationships. I can definitely see that it’s a spiritual gift for me to connect with someone. I really love being in community with people. There’s so much to learn. I find myself asking, “How often am I taking my time to get to know these girls and know who they really are and how I can be a light in their lives?” That’s something I want to strive for every day.

I just have a drive for building relationships. I can definitely see that it’s a huge spiritual gift for me to connect with someone. I really love being in community with people.

Cieara Anderson
Sophomore, visual arts and design education, ’24

I think it’s really cool how the 500 Festival changes you. It’s just amazing to see the growth that has come with this program.

This student spotlight is part of a special series highlighting Purdue’s many connections to the Indy 500. Thank you to Cieara Anderson (sophomore, visual arts and design education, ’24) for sharing your story with us.

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