Kaylan Liles has been named the Altus Tourism Ambassador for 2009. She will begin the drive on Tuesday, May 26.

Funds raised through this special campaign are used to promote Altus and our area of the state of Oklahoma. All funds raised are designated for tourism promotion activities and to promote Altus and the immediate area. The visitor industry in the state and region continues to grow. This industry will continue its growth pattern because of tourism projects developing in southwest Oklahoma. Quartz Mountain Resort Arts and Conference Center and Nature Park including the Oklahoma Arts Institute and the Quartz Mountain Music Festival and the Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute, Twin Peaks Performance Hall, Hackberry Flats Wetland Restoration Project near Frederick, and the National Park at Cheyenne are just a few of the examples of projects that continue to draw visitors to our area of the U.S.A. Another program is to secure a designation as the Great Western Scenic By-way which tracks along the route of the Great Western Cattle Trail from the Oklahoma By-way program. In order to draw visitors to our area we must promote, promote and promote some more.

Kaylan will spend the months of June and July making calls on businesses, individuals and organizations, soliciting support for the myriad of promotional activities sponsored by the Altus Chamber of Commerce and benefiting our entire region. Our chamber is currently working with Mangum, Granite, Hobart, Lone Wolf and Quartz Mountain Resort Arts and Conference Center and Nature Park on a brochure that will promote other things to do for visitors at the lake. Each year the Altus Chamber partners with other communities throughout the 14 county area of Southwest Oklahoma tourism marketing association called Great Plains County in an project to produce 80,000 Great Plains Country guides. These and many more projects will be funded through the monies raised during the summer tourism promotion program. For more information or to schedule a visit with Kaylan Liles, call the Altus Chamber at 482-0210.

Kaylan Liles is the daughter of Ed and Dana Liles. Kaylan is a senior at Altus High School. She has had roles in past AHS productions of “High School Musical” , “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Oklahoma” and “Cinderella”. She has been involved in Bullpup Singers, Sweet 16, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and Show Choir. Kaylan has been one of the editors for the Altus High Yearbook for 2 years. She was named to the All-Region Choir, National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Vice-President of KAY Klub, Top Dog Award, Junior Rotarian and Superintendent’s Honor Roll. Kaylan is also a 4 year letterman on the Varsity Golf team which took State Runner up this year. She has been selected to attend the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute in Photography for 3 years. Kaylan attends the First Baptist Church where she is active in the youth group. After high school, she will attend Southwestern State University on a golf scholarship and plans to obtain her degree and become a Child Life Specialist.