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The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
Altoona Area High School
1404 Sixth Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
  • May 23Breakfast 05/23/25 - French Toast Sticks
  • May 23Lunch 05/23/25 - Cheesy Bread Sticks
  • May 23Announcements for 05/23/25
  • May 22Breakfast 05/22/25 - Egg and Cheese Croissant
  • May 22Lunch 05/22/25 - BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
  • May 22Announcements for 05/22/25
  • May 21Breakfast 05/21/25 - Breakfast on a Stick
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
Andie Kephart

Andie Kephart, Reporter

After being a part of the Livewire staff last school year, I decided to join Mountain Echo for my freshman year. Outside of school I enjoy doing competitive weightlifting and spending time with my friends. I have been lifting for three years now and have competed in many national competitions all across the U.S. My future plans are to go to Penn State and become a physical therapist.

All content by Andie Kephart
Out with the old in with the new. Student can bring any type of water bottle into the school as long as it's clear.

New bans come into effect 22 days before the end of the year

Adrielle McNeal, Emma Hovan, Andie Kephart, and Gracie Gioiosa
May 8, 2025
Keystones. Keystones will be May 12 through May 14. Students take Algebra, Biology and Literature throughout their high school years.

Keystones to take place

Andie Kephart, Reporter
May 2, 2025
Victory. The gymnastics team mark another state Championship. Biseli coached them through both of these wins. (Courtesy of Zoe Weaver)

End of an era: Gymnastics team head coach departs

Andie Kephart, Reporter
May 2, 2025
Victory. The gymnastics team marks their second state Championship. Biseli coached them through both of these wins.(Courtesy of Zoe Weaver)

Workshops. At the Hershey Lodge and at the Hershey Hotel there were many workshops to attend. Each one was on a different topic.

Testing. This is the line that testers lined up in to get into the testing room. States were held on April 8 and 9.

FBLA. Pa FBLA states was held in Hershey Pa. There were members competing from both middle and high school.

[Photo] FBLA states takes place in Hershey

April 10, 2025
Chocolate World. Before competing, FBLA members went to Chocolate World. FBLA Nationals will be held on June 29 to July 2.

Ribbons. Members of FBLA collect ribbons to add to their name tags. Every member gets a name tag along with advisors and chaperons.

Dinning. Located at the Hershey Hotel was a dining area. This is where FBLA members ate breakfast and dinner.

Colleges. In the Hershey Lodge many colleges and programs set up table booths. At these tables, FBLA members could learn more about these colleges and programs.

Smile. Located at the Hershey Lodge was a photo booth. At the photo booth, there were many accessories to take pictures with.

Giant Center. The FBLA award ceremony was held at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. The ceremony was held on April 8.

Top 10. Seniors Charlie Kephart and Courtney Irwin placed top 10 in their categories. Kephart competed in Journalism and Irwin in Economics

FBLA. Pa FBLA states was held in Hershey Pa. There were members competing from both middle and high school.

FBLA states takes place in Hershey

Andie Kephart, Reporter
April 10, 2025
FBLA States. These 9 students receive their plaques after Regionals at Saint Francis. This year's Regionals took place on Jan. 14

FBLA to compete at States

Andie Kephart, Reporter
April 2, 2025
Female athletes at the top of their game: managing school,sports success

Female athletes at the top of their game: managing school,sports success

Andie Kephart, Reporter
April 1, 2025
Girls League raises money for Easter for Eli

Girls League raises money for Easter for Eli

Andie Kephart, Reporter
March 17, 2025
Friday night in Altoona

Friday night in Altoona

Andie Kephart and Charlie Kephart
March 10, 2025
Line up. The girls basketball team lines up for the National Anthem. The National Anthem was sung by Caleb Marasco.

Cheer. Senior MJ Harrington and junior Parker White cheer on the team along with many other students. Physical Education teacher Tom Palfey handed out free shirts to students in attendance.

Free throw. The two teams line up for Norwin to shoot a free throw. This game took place on March 7.

Hustle Hudson. Freshman Brionna Hudson runs down the court. This is her first year on the team.

Musical Madison. Juniors Madison Aboud and Grace Beldin play the flute during the PMEA Region Band concert. This concert was on March 7.

Bold band. Schools from all over Region 3 play together at the concert. This concert started at 7 p.m.

Dazzling Dylan and Dominic. Eighth graders Dominic Sparacino and Dylan Hawksworth play Gaston and LeFou from Beauty and the Beast. This musical took place at the junior high.

Beauty and the Beast. Belle and the Beast have an argument. The audience was given fake candles to hold up throughout the musical.

Beautiful Belle. Eighth grader Abby Berchfield plays Belle in the junior high musical. This musical started at 7 p.m.

Winning Wilt. Senior Lanie Wilt passes the ball to her teammate. The final score was 49-38, Altoona winning.

Spring Spectacular. All the seniors gather for a picture at the end of their last Spring Spectacular Concert. This concert was held on Feb. 27. (Courtesy of Adrielle McNeal)

Music department scholarship announcement

Andie Kephart, Reporter
March 6, 2025
The girl's 200 yard medley rely team flex their bronze medals.

[Photo] District Swim Meet

February 27, 2025
Freshman Deklan Barr wrestles his opponent. Wrestling is one of several sports that students can join. (Photo Courtesy of Andie Kephart)

District AAA/AA wrestling championship

Andie Kephart, Reporter
February 24, 2025
Weekly Cookie. At Cumbl, the flavors change every single week. This week was Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks, Jammy Heart, Red Velvet Cupcake, Valentine Confetti, Lemon Glaze and Dirt Cake. (Courtesy of Emma Hovan)

Crumbl cookie ranking

Andie Kephart, Reporter
February 3, 2025
Huddle. The baseball team is huddling up with energy, ready to win their game. The open gym will be two different days from 5:15- 7:00 p.m. (Courtesy of Addisen McDonald)

Baseball open gym to take place

Andie Kephart, Reporter
February 3, 2025
Sprint. Sophomore Abigail Harkins swims in the 200 yard freestyle relay. In this relay, four people each swim a 50 yard freestyle. (Courtesy of Isabella Foor)

Altoona swim team to take on Hollidaysburg

Andie Kephart, Reporter
January 27, 2025
Lady Lions line up. Members of the team line up to begin their meet. This meet marked their third victory of the season.

Gymnastics team remains undefeated

Andie Kephart, Reporter
January 8, 2025
Go Mountain Lions. The varsity boys basketball team lines up for the national anthem. They played on Dec.20 against Chambersburg.

Mountain Lions takes on Chambersburg

Andie Kephart, Reporter
January 8, 2025
Happy Holidays! Students around the school celebrated the holidays in many ways. Some decorate with Christmas trees and others with menorahs.

Holiday break to begin

Andie Kephart, Reporter
December 18, 2024
Block. The Lady Lions play against Central Dauphin. Volleyball is a part of the intramural sport program. (Courtesy of Noah DiVentura)

Intramural sports to make their return

Andie Kephart, Reporter
December 16, 2024
Tackle. Players from Stuffin' Stompers play in the Turkey Bowl morning games. The preliminary games were held in the morning to determine who would move onto the finals.

Turkey Bowl 2024

Charlie Kephart and Andie Kephart
December 5, 2024
Quick Quinn. Senior Andrew Quinn and senior Xavier Midder attempt to catch the ball. Quinn was on Feastin' Flock and Midder was on Cranberry Crushers.

[Photo] Xavier Midder's Mansion Record

April 29, 2025
On the move Mitchell. Senior Luke Mitchell tells his team their next play. Mitchell was one of the coaches for Pilgrim Power.

Will he do it? Senior Will Sankey gets ready to play in the finals. The two teams in the finals were Poultry in Motion and Fear the Feathers

Crown Carmine. Senior Mark Harrington crowns senior Carmine Polito during the final round. Harrington and Polito were on Poultry in Motion.

Speedy Sipes. Senior Lucas Sipes runs to score a point for his team in the finals. Sipes was on Turkey Stuffers

Finals time. Juniors Collin Lutz and Roan Greaser celebrate getting into the finals. Lutz and Greaser were on Fear the Feathers.

Winner, winner, turkey dinner. Senior Will Sankey high steps to get away from senior Nick Boslet. Sankey was on Poultry in Motion and Boslet was on Feastin' Flock.

Hard at work. Poultry in Motion junior player Adelyn Himmelwright goes to grab senior Mya Mielnik's flag during the semi-finals. Poultry in Motion took home the championship title for the 2024 Turkey Bowl.

Ready to run: 2024 Turkey Bowl takes place

Charlie Kephart, Mattie Baker, Emmalee Martyak, Madison Aboud, Andie Kephart, and Emma Hovan
November 26, 2024
Losing. Senior Addisen McDonald's reaction to not making it to the finals. McDonald was on Turkz.

Food drive. Many students and teachers help organize all the items donated into baskets in 2023. This year they will help around 40 families. (Courtesy of Stephanie McAleer)

Student council plans annual food drive

Andie Kephart, Reporter
November 26, 2024
Kephart coaches the swimmers by correcting their technique. Kephart also coaches at the Blair Regional YMCA.

Swim team announces new coaching staff

Andie Kephart, Reporter
November 4, 2024
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
Candidate Stayley Drenning and senior Mary Worley dress up as Fear and Anger from the original “Inside Out” movie. Senior Zyon Vanlue dressed up as nostalgia from the new movie “Inside Out 2”.

Homecoming spirit week

Andie Kephart, Reporter
October 8, 2024
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