Bellarmine Excellence Shines in the 2026 Kentucky Derby Festival
With race day just around the corner, beacons of the 农夫导航 community are among the team members making possible one of Louisville鈥檚 most beloved traditions, the Kentucky Derby Festival. From planning and promotion to activities up to and including race-day, the roles of these Knights are key to bringing Festival magic to life.
For Shae Goodlett 鈥17, Molly Jett Heim 鈥20, 鈥20, and students Tania Vergara-Gongora and Prajita Bhetwel 鈥 all Louisville natives 鈥 the connection to the Festival is a personal homecoming, of sorts, as they move from spectators to active ambassadors for the city they love and the events that created cherished childhood memories.
For those who made Louisville home after arriving as students 鈥 Christopher Martini 鈥10, 鈥13, Kayla (Coursey) Southern 鈥16, and senior Andrea Chiquemba, the opportunity to play instrumental roles on the Derby Festival team further strengthens their sense of community and love for the impact of Bellarmine on the city and in their lives.
A Cycle of Mentorship: Prajita Bhetwel
Senior Prajita Bhetwel serves as a communications intern for the Derby Festival, working
alongside alumna and the Festival鈥檚 digital media strategist, Molly Heim.
鈥淚t has been amazing to work with Molly because we have this shared excitement about our Bellarmine experience and working together that has made this opportunity even more meaningful,鈥 Prajita said.
Connected to the internship through Bellarmine鈥檚 career development center and campus leadership, Prajita captures the Festival鈥檚 magic in real time for social media. It is a role that allows her to build on her experience as a student leader, launching and planning events and promoting them to the campus community. For Prajita, both organizations offer and fulfill great promise to those they serve.
鈥淏oth Bellarmine and the Festival strengthen the community by bringing people together, supporting local initiatives, and promoting service to one another,鈥 she said. 鈥淪o many of the values rooted in the university鈥檚 Catholic identity are also a natural part of the spirit of the Festival.鈥
Discovering the Legacy: Andrea Chiquemba
Originally from Portugal, senior basketball player Andrea Chiquemba arrived at Bellarmine
without a deep knowledge of the Derby Festival. However, as an events and production
intern, her role is immersive, and she learned quickly that the Festival is a staple
of the city.
鈥淚t is heartwarming to be a part of these events, to provide joy for the community,鈥 Andrea said. 鈥淔amilies wait all year for the Derby, and they are so grateful for the chance to be together and have a great time.鈥
In addition to the opportunity to meaningfully engage with the community, the experience has been a vital platform for building professional skills, allowing her to reach beyond her comfort zone, face new responsibilities with each event, and experience teamwork in a new way.
鈥淎s an athlete and a student, I have developed a strong work ethic, and being a part of the Festival really gives us a chance to showcase our dedication and skills 鈥 all we鈥檝e learned at Bellarmine 鈥 in a way that benefits others,鈥 Andrea said.
Capturing the Spirit: Shae Goodlett
Selected as the 2026 Official Derby Festival Poster Artist, Shae Goodlett is a proud
Bellarmine alumnus and current arts educator at the university level. His work, which
has graced national stages, from Sports Illustrated to the White House Visitor Center,
now finds a home on the Derby Festival鈥檚 most iconic souvenir. For Shae, this honor
is deeply personal.
鈥淟ouisville is home, and anytime you get to contribute to something that celebrates
where you live and the things that are a part of your life, it just makes the effort
that much more special,鈥 Shae said.
His original design channels a vintage travel poster aesthetic, blending nostalgic
landmarks like the Belle of Louisville with the high energy of the Pegasus mascot.
鈥淭he Derby Festival generates a palpable, tangible energy, whether it鈥檚 at the start of the marathon or in the rush to find the best spot at Thunder,鈥 Shae said. 鈥淚n my poster, I tried to capture that by leaning into spontaneity: that energy culminates in this unity of purpose and spirit.鈥
Hospitality & Heritage: Molly Jett Heim
Now serving as digital content strategist, Molly Jett Heim鈥檚 journey to the Festival
began as a child attending events and watching her father run in races; continued
as a high school student in Louisville, marching in the Zoeller Pump Pegasus Parade;
and then when selected for the Royal Court in 2020 before festivities were canceled
because of the pandemic.
On staff since January 2025, she manages nine social media accounts, as well as the organization鈥檚 other digital platforms, and supports broad public relations efforts. Molly relishes the opportunity to play a role in bringing the activities, culture, and heritage from the Festival鈥檚 70 years to the community she calls home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to see our events come to life every year 鈥 for everyone, every economic status, every demographic 鈥 it鈥檚 very special to be a part of the tradition,鈥 Molly said.
The spirit of hospitality engrained in Festival planning is a continuation of her experience as a Bellarmine student, where she felt welcomed as a prospective student and greeted others as a tour guide. It is also carried forward into her mentorship of Bellarmine senior Prajita Bhetwel, who interns at the Festival under Molly鈥檚 supervision.
鈥淢y involvement as a senior in the annual Bellarmine Alumni-Student Mentoring Program opened doors to broadcast journalism 鈥 a journey that has now allowed me to give back by mentoring communication students and leading the Festival鈥檚 communication internship program,鈥 Molly said. 鈥淚t has been equally rewarding to connect with Prajita through our shared experiences, as she explores many of the same collegiate activities and opportunities I once enjoyed.鈥
Racing to Excellence: Christopher Martini
Event Manager and Race Director Christopher Martini found his way to Bellarmine from
Northeast Ohio, drawn by the communication program and the close-knit campus culture.
After a decade in the nonprofit sector 鈥 where he first engaged with the Derby Festival
as a race charity volunteer 鈥 he oversees the Derby Festival 5K Presented by First
Urology and the Humana miniMarathon and Marathon, managing the complex logistics of
race weekend.
For him, transitioning from a volunteer to a full-time event leader was a natural progression of his commitment to service-oriented work and a career with roots going back to his student experience as a member of the activities council and a student intern. His role at the Derby Festival brings him full circle.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 say enough about the impact of the university for me,鈥 Christopher said. 鈥淚t brought me to Louisville, and the atmosphere was very important in helping me connect to the city and build a community.
鈥淏ellarmine means so much to the city, and so does what we鈥檙e doing here at the Festival. It really means something, and you can feel that in its energy.鈥
Cultivating Connection: Kayla (Coursey) Southern
Kayla Southern describes her time as a student at Bellarmine as one of the most formative
chapters of her life. More than a decade after she first attended the Derby Festival
as a student, she is now an integral part of the event team as marketing manager.
Having been immersed in both the campus community and the Festival culture, Kayla believes both serve as vital hubs for growth and connection within the city, and she finds fulfillment in being one of the architects behind the energy that defines the season. For her, the Festival is a reflection of Louisville鈥檚 collective identity, expanding the excitement of the Derby to include every corner of the community. She credits her Bellarmine education with fostering qualities that now drive her professional work.
鈥淏ellarmine pushed me to be curious and engaged, and that shaped who I am today. Now, my work with the Festival allows me to be an active part of the community, building connections and creating experiences that bring people together,鈥 Kayla said.
A Mission of Joy: Tania Vergara-Gongora
Tania Vergara-Gongora, a junior marketing major and first-generation college student
at Bellarmine, is this year鈥檚 Derby Festival Queen, a role she has envisioned as an
extension of her life鈥檚 mission since she was selected as Festival Princess.
Her journey embodies the university鈥檚 commitment to improving the human condition by bringing joy and awareness of the importance of a joyful life perspective. An ambassador for Bellarmine鈥檚 study abroad program and a national youth advocate for the Catholic faith, Tania is determined to have a positive influence wherever she is present.
鈥淚 really hope to be an inspiration for youth and just anyone in the community who encounters us in our roles at Festival events,鈥 Tania said. 鈥淎dditionally, this is an opportunity to be a bridge between the Hispanic community and the Catholic community, inside and outside of Bellarmine.鈥
The Bellarmine Connection
These students and alumni exemplify the intrinsic dignity and social responsibility
at the heart of Bellarmine鈥檚 Catholic identity. Through an artist鈥檚 brush, an order
of show, and masterful storytelling, these Knights are proof that a Bellarmine education
prepares students to make both a living and a life worth living.
鈥淭his is a way to bring a little bit of light to those around me,鈥 Tania said.
Together, they stand as ambassadors not just for the Kentucky Derby Festival, but for the compassionate, service-oriented spirit of the Bellarmine community as well.
About the Kentucky Derby Festival
2026 marks the 71st year for the Kentucky Derby Festival, a month-long celebration packed with 70+ events leading up to the first Saturday in May. As an independent community organization, it鈥檚 supported by 4,000 volunteers, more than 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people every spring and has a local economic impact of more than $200 million. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single-attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.