Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

QUINCY, ILL. -- Quincy welcomed home Miss Illinois Sunday.

Megan Ervin, who won the Miss Illinois Scholarship Association pageant, was at the Town & Country Inn & Suites in Quincy Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for her first appearance in West Central Illinois since winning the award.

The Rushville, Ill. native represented Quincy at the Miss Illinois pageant.

Ervin appeared along with Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen Grace Khachaturian and Miss Illinois Outstanding Pre-Teen Maddie Mazzella.

Ervin modeled her Miss Illinois competition gown and showed a video of her talent. She also signed autographs and took pictures with her fans.

Miss Illinois said that winning her crown fulfilled a lifelong dream and offered words of encouragement to others about their personal goals, "You can never stop following your dreams. I came from a very small town in West Central Illinois, a town of 3,300 people. It was a very close knit community but growing up in a community like that you have to utilize that support system and not be afraid to think out of the box and reach for those goals and those dreams that are often time very rare."

Supporters had the opportunity to donate to her platforms, or to help out with her travel costs as she makes over 300 appearances across the state this year.

Ervin will attend the Miss America Scholarship Pageant in January at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Keep up to date with Megan Ervin, Miss Illinois 2012 at www.missillinois.org.