Michelle Marsha is the Tourism Ambassador for 2010. She will begin the drive on Tuesday, June 1.

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 now has two major events including the Oklahoma Summer and Fall Arts Institute and the Quartz Mountain Music Festival. This year the Quartz Mountain Music Festival has the Romero Guitar Academy and launches two new ones, Chamber Music and Chamber Orchestra Academies. Public Performances will be held in the WOSC Herschal Crow Fine Arts Center and the Twin Peaks Performance Hall. Other tourist related draws include Hackberry Flats Wetland Restoration Project near Frederick and the National Park at Cheyenne, Ok. Another program is to secure a designation for the Great Western Scenic By-way which tracks along the route of the Great Western Cattle Trail and to receive an official “Trail” status from the Department of the Interior.

Michelle Marcha is the daughter of Elizabeth Marcha and Phil Marcha. Michelle is a Sophomore at Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City. Michelle is pursuing a degree in Child Development and is a member of the Varsity Track team at OC. She is a 2009 graduate of Altus High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society for three years and served as Parliamentarian, on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll all four years, received AHS Top Dog Award. She was a three sport letterman while in high school participating in Softball, Cross Country, Basketball and Track & Field. Michelle currently holds the Altus High School women’s high jump record with a jump of 5’4”. She was a member of the AHS Show Choir and First Ladies’ Show Choir and participated in the All School Productions for three years. Michelle has been a volunteer for the Main Street Altus programs, participated in the Miss Altus Scholarship Pageant for the last two years and a member of the First United Methodist Church where she has enjoyed helping with several mission trips and bible camps.