Redefining what it means to be a princess

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: Education major Jullianna Niebbia wants girls to dream beyond others’ expectations

I just want to tell young girls: Whatever you want to put your mind to, you can achieve it. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.

I am going to graduate with a degree in English education and a minor in sociology. However, I want to go into law enforcement. My goal is to one day be a state trooper. I always wanted to be a police officer when I was younger, but I felt like if I were to express my passion, people would just kind of laugh. So, I never really said anything until I got to Purdue. And a lot of friends were telling me, “You can do whatever you want.” You know, college is all about becoming yourself and finding yourself. And it led me to this.

I know that as a female police officer, the second I get out of that car and walk up to the car in front of me, I’m going to have to work 20 times as hard as any man. But it’s my dream.

Being a role model for younger girls as a 500 Festival princess, it just makes me so happy. But it also makes me want to tell them, “Don’t just aspire to be me — aspire to be somebody that you want to be.”

Being a role model for younger girls as a 500 Festival princess, it just makes me so happy. But it also makes me want to tell them, “Don’t just aspire to be me — aspire to be somebody that you want to be.

Jullianna Niebbia
Senior, education, sociology ’22

This student spotlight is part of a special series highlighting Purdue’s many connections to the Indy 500. Thank you to Jullianna Niebbia (senior, education, sociology ’22) for sharing your story with us.

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