We congratulate Erica McPheeters, who was selected to serve as one of the five members of the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival Court. Erica is a Whitney M. Young Scholar who graduated from Central High School in 2021. She was selected as a Derby Princess after a rigorous selection process that included over 100 applicants. She and the other members of this year’s court will represent the Kentucky Derby Festival at many events during Derby season. Erica is currently a senior at Kentucky State University. She is a Vogt Scholar and a John Henry Scholar majoring in Political Science. Erica is the current Miss Kentucky State University and is very active in the community. She serves as a volunteer mentor for Franklin County Schools and has interned at the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office. She also interned at Princeton University’s Archive, Research and Collaborative History Program.
Erica is the latest scholar selected to serve as a Derby Princess. Past WYSP princesses include Daphne Woolridge (Derby Festival 2017), Eriauna Stratton (Derby Festival 2014), and Dominique Luster (Derby Festival 2013).