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Lincoln Trail College alumna Krista Phillips ('24) was crowned Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, a moment she described as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream and a powerful reflection of her journey as both a student and competitor.
“I was in disbelief that my name was called,” Phillips said. “I kept thinking, I really did it. My dreams were fulfilled, prayers answered, and waves of gratitude kept pouring over me.”
Phillips, who represented Effingham County, is the first Miss Illinois County Fair Queen from the county since 2004 — the year she was born. She said the honor carries deep personal meaning given the legacy behind the crown and the strength of this year’s competition.
“There is a long line of heritage behind the crown, and I am beyond excited to add my story to it,” she said. “Knowing how difficult this competition is and the amount of talented girls competing makes me feel incredibly honored.”
This year’s state pageant also featured a strong presence from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, with seven contestants having ties to IECC institutions. Alongside Phillips, competitors included Kamryn Remlinger, a Lincoln Trail College student studying Early Childhood Education; Madalyn Miller, a nursing student at Lincoln Trail College; Alice Robb, a dual credit student; Olivia Haun, a former IECC student; Madalyn Rauch, also a former IECC student; August Michels, an agriculture student at Wabash Valley College; and Miss Wayne County Kadence Smith, a nursing student at Frontier Community College who finished in the Top 16 at the state pageant.
“To me, it is very inspiring,” Phillips said. “It combats stereotypes by showing that students who go to junior colleges can achieve greatness. Upon learning there were multiple girls from IECC, I instantly felt connected because we shared that step in our lives.”
Phillips said her time at Lincoln Trail College played a key role in building the confidence and communication skills that prepared her for moments like this.
“The first time I ran for Miss Effingham County Fair Queen, I attended LTC,” she said. “Even though I placed first runner-up that year, I experienced incredible support from faculty, students, and my volleyball team.”
She credits opportunities such as competing at the National FBLA Convention, serving as the student speaker at her 2024 graduation, and competing as a member of the volleyball team for shaping her resilience and leadership.
“LTC will always hold a special place in my heart,” Phillips said. “It helped shape me into who I am today.”
