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The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

Online newspaper of Altoona Area High School in Altoona, Pennsylvania
  • October 15Breakfast 10/15/24 - Sausage, Egg and Cheese Muffin
  • October 15Lunch 10/15/24 - Meatloaf Stack
  • October 15Announcements for 10/15/24
  • October 14Breakfast 10/14/24 - Glazed Donut
  • October 14Lunch 10/14/24 - Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
  • October 14Announcements for 10/14/24
  • October 10Breakfast 10/10/24 - Bacon, Egg and Cheese Croissant
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

Speech league is making its return during the 2024-2025 school year. Meetings are held once a month if students are interested in joining. (Courtesy of Julie Storm)
Speech league announces its return
Andie Kephart, Reporter • October 14, 2024

Making its return for the first time since the pandemic, the speech league will start their competition season soon. At the beginning of the...

Senior Laura Reed auditions for the 2024 fall play.
Drama club prepares for fall play
Adrielle McNeal, Reporter • October 10, 2024

This year the drama club will present “The Trap” for the fall play. The show will be held on Nov. 8 and 9.  Behind the scenes many students...

Alannah Irwin and escort Mazin Ahmed's react to winning. Irwin was crowned by last year's queen, Aleah Layton.
Alannah Irwin crowned Homecoming queen
Charlie Kephart, Editor in Chief • October 10, 2024

On Oct. 4, the 2024 Homecoming queen was crowned at Mansion Park. Senior Alannah Irwin was crowned queen. Irwin represented track and field.  “It...

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Opportunity of a lifetime. President Obama holds a then baby Noah DiVentrua. The photo was taken at the bowling alley his family owns. (Courtesy of Noah DiVentura).
A Strike of Luck
Madison Aboud, Associate Editor • October 9, 2024

The story begins at 8:02 a.m., New Year’s Day, 2008.  The mother is given a dozen red roses and a $50 gift certificate. The father is given a $50 gift certificate....

Heavy lifting. Logan Meyers works out in the gym. (Courtesy of Logan Meyers)
Teen powerlifter pulls his weight to big leagues
Lincoln Frank, Associate Editor • October 3, 2024

Logan Meyers, a 17-year-old student, has taken the world of powerlifting by storm. Balancing schoolwork...

Journey of arts. Lauren Bossi shares her story. (Courtesy of Laura Bossi.)
It's OK to not be OK
Madison Aboud, Associate Editor • September 30, 2024

The story starts at Altoona High School in 2000. Laura Bossi is an AP (advanced placement) and honors...

Check and double check. Students must sign out in the work experience classroom everyday upon leaving for work.
Juniors, seniors participate in work experience class
Cevin Dively, Reporter • September 24, 2024

With students adapting to their new schedules at the building for the year, some are adapting to it while...

Freshly 18 and eager to vote. Former student Lila Benjamin registers to vote. "Registering to vote is very important. A lot of young people are understandably scared of making such a big decision, but voting allows younger generations to voice their opinion and get a say on how laws are made," Benjamin said.
A guide for registering to vote in Pennsylvania
Gracie Gioiosa, Reporter • September 18, 2024

The good news: from 2016 to 2020 there was an 11 point increase in youth that showed up to vote for president....

Running the show. Brandon Kunder directs the Alumni Band during practice. Kunder was Larry Detwiler's student teacher in 2023 and is now the director of the Jr. High band.
Together again: Graduates return for Alumni Band
Madison Aboud, Associate Editor • September 10, 2024

 On Sept. 6, 275 past band members returned to their roots to participate in Alumni Band. For many,...

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Freshmen Ava Miller and Brianna Sanchez leap up to block the spike from the other team. (Courtesy of Isabella Foor)
Volleyball team looks to climb the ranks
Rylan Cagle, Reporter • October 14, 2024

The girls’ volleyball team is facing a challenging season, grappling with a series of tough losses. Despite the setbacks, the team remains determined to push forward. Head...

Watch and Learn. Junior Krieghoff Cumming is putting the ball to finish the hole. Operation Our Town is the largest match of the year.
Altoona boys' golf team falls short from districts
Noah DiVentura, Reporter • October 10, 2024

The Altoona Area High School boys’ golf team wrapped up their 2024-2025 season, with all athletes missing spots in the District championships....

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Mountain Echo Voices
Now showing. "Last Night in Soho" is available to watch on Prime Video. The movie ran for 146 minutes.
Last night's movie
Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker October 5, 2024

Since its 2021 release, “Last Night in Soho” has received a seven out of 10 on IMDb, and a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. Whether it deserves this review, however, is open to...

One on one. With the changes that have been made to the program, Altoona Cyber  Academy teachers are now able to devote direct class time towards teaching cyber students.
Weighing the benefits of cyberschool
Lincoln Frank, Associate Editor • September 19, 2024

In recent years, cyber schooling has emerged as a viable educational option for many families, offering flexibility and unique learning environments that traditional schools...

Rotten. Some of the worst reviews of the worst movies of the year. Sources were taken from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
Why the film industry is flopping
Mattie Baker, Editor • September 18, 2024

Action, horror, romance, thriller and comedy. No genre seems to be safe in 2024.  “Madame Web,” the Marvel-Sony superhero movie featuring Sydney Sweeney and Dakota...

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Horrific. "How to Sell a Haunted House" by Grady Hendrix is a scary good time. It was the author's 2023 release.
September Book of the Month
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • September 23, 2024

Hendrix has been on the horror radar since his novel, “My Best Friend’s Exorcism”, was released in 2016. Since then, he has also written two other horror heavy-hitters:...

Editorial Cartoon
Editorial Cartoon
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • October 14, 2024

Women empower women. (Designed in Canva.)
Letter to the Editor: Women's Rights
Devin VanAmburgh, Contributor • October 14, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris takes her official portrait Thursday, March 4, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The 2024 election: A clear choice
Editorial Board, Reporter • October 14, 2024

The 2024 election will choose the 47th United States President: the person who will not only be at the forefront of the United States and how...

Today's Weather


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October 15
48°/ 30°
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October 16
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October 17
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Photo of the Week
Mountain Echo Pulse

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Featured Staff Members
Emmalee Martyak
Emmalee Martyak
Associate Editor
Haven Femea
Haven Femea
Reporter
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The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School