Savannah Boneta was born in Fishers; however, she did not grow up in the Hoosier light. She knew what the Indy 500 was, but she had never attended the race or the parade. After submitting her application and completing multiple interview rounds, Boneta was selected for the 500 Festival Princess Program. Each year, 33 college-aged women are selected and serve as ambassadors for the race, their hometown and their college/university. This rigorous program selects women based on their academic performance, community involvement, commitment service and leadership abilities. Since 1959, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has provided over 2,000 women with opportunities for leadership and professional development.