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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
  • April 24Breakfast 04/24/25 - Egg and Cheese Bagel
  • April 24Lunch 04/24/25 - Pulled Pork Nachos
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The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
Madison Aboud

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor

My name is Madison Aboud and I am a sophomore at AAHS. This is my second year on Mountain Echo staff and my first year as an Associate Editor. In Jr. high, I was a reporter on the AAJHS Livewire. In my free time, you can find me reading or singing along to my favorite show-tunes. I’ve always had a passion for writing. My ultimate goal after high school is to become a professional journalist. Outside of Mountain Echo, I am in band, chorus, vocal ensemble, student council and Friends of Rachel. I strive to make sure students of AAHS are finding out everything they need to know within a timely manner. I can’t wait for another great year! 

All content by Madison Aboud
Made in Canva.

April Book of the Month

Madison Aboud, Reporter
April 23, 2025
All smiles. Adilee Scott, Dominick Zlupko, Ava Steinbugl and Keldon Holland were on-hand to receive the first place plaques. Mark Harrington and Carmine Polito were also part of the Best Newscast team. (Courtesy of Mike Baker.)

MLTV wins four awards at Keystone Media Awards

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
April 15, 2025
Curtain call. The Little Mermaid cast takes their final bow on the closing night of the show.

Behind the scenes shenanigans

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
April 11, 2025
Attentive audience. The audience falls silent during a song. Regional Band performed several songs on March 7.

Musicians make it to All-States

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
April 10, 2025
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)

Orchestra to perform spring concert

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
April 4, 2025
Attentive audience. The audience falls silent during a song. Regional Band performed several songs on March 7.

All – State festivals to be held April 9 – 12

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
April 1, 2025
All smiles. Junior Ryker Scriver poses with teacher Deidra Dumm. Dumm was the first person Sciver told about being a Challenge Program finalist. (Courtesy of Ryker Scriver).

Ryker Scriver named Challenge Program finalist

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
March 24, 2025
Elected. Wenzel is part of the State Thespian Board for next year and will be able to help plan the next Thesfest conference. He was shocked and excited when they announced his name for the officer position. "I've gotten into more of the technical side of things. I usually just do acting, but I've learned a lot more about the design of stages, design of lighting and a lot of media advertising, too," Wenzel said. (Courtesy of Wenzel)

Music department works through winter

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
March 19, 2025
Reading all the way. The best books to read for a long winter.

Quick reads to make it through a slow winter

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
March 12, 2025
One last time. The Vocal Ensemble performs under the direction of Kelly Sipes, unaware it would be one of their final performances with her. (Courtesy of Kelly Sipes)

Parting ways

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
February 27, 2025
Hard at work. As illness in students rise, so do the number of visits to the nurse during the school day.

[Photo] Number of students visiting nurse skyrockets

Adrielle McNeal, Reporter
November 8, 2024
Prologue. Every book holds a new adventure and you never know what will be waiting within the pages.

Book of the Month

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
February 23, 2025
How long. The stage during the second act of “Hadestown.” The second act begins with Persephone and the workers singing “Our Lady of the Underground.”

Best Broadway musicals

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
January 30, 2025
Love is in the air. With Valentine's Day around the corner, there is nothing better than curling up with a good romance novel... or fantasy. (Made with Canva.)

Happily ever after

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
February 11, 2025
Working hard. 16 band members qualified for Region Band. (Courtesy of Larry Detwiler.)

Region Band concert to be held

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
February 10, 2025
Mountain Lion Backpack prepares bags

Mountain Lion Backpack prepares bags

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
January 27, 2025
Working hard. Volunteers begin going through packing on Jan. 22.

Break down. While others pack, some volunteers choose to help in other ways, such as breaking down boxes.

Food for thought. Cans of soup line the stage as packers work to get all bags packed.

After hours. Junior Natalie Duffy helps out at Backpack after school.

Signing in. Volunteers sit at the back desk in order to help new packers understand how to help, as well as watch over sign in.

Following the lead. Kim Aboud helps out every week, packing and cleaning.

Helping out. Cereal is a popular choice for those helping out the Backpack program.

Cold. Volunteers come out to help load the crates of food even though it was a cold night.

Directions. David Aboud helps to direct packers and volunteers over the course of the night.

Ready to go. Crates are placed on the cart in order to be picked up by others.

Brotherly Love. Playing for the same team as his brother, junior Collin Smith also practices with the red team. (Courtesy of Noah DiVentura.)

Bocce team to take on rival Hollidaysburg

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
January 7, 2025
Continuing on. "Breaking Band" production will continue on even with a cast member going cyber. (Made with Canva.)

“Breaking Band” continues production after cast member goes cyber

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
January 6, 2025
Christmas time is here. The end of the year is fast approaching and the pile of books is smaller. A glimpse into the past reading year. (made with Canva.)

December Book of the Month

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
December 23, 2024
Brotherly Love. Playing for the same team as his brother, junior Collin Smith also practices with the red team. (Courtesy of Noah DiVentura.)

[Photo] Bocce practice takes place

Noah DiVentura, Reporter
December 18, 2024
Playing the Blues. The Seth Goheen Trio performed at Levity Brewing Co. on Dec. 6. The performance was their first paid gig. (Courtesy of Seth Goheen.)

Young and jazzy

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
December 17, 2024
Free! Free Fridays are available for any high school student who shows their ID. (Courtesy of Lila Benjamin.)

Free Fridays

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
December 13, 2024
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
Banning books. Every year, the number of novels on banned book lists increase. (Made with Canva).

The price society pays

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
November 25, 2024
On Altoona! The band performed pregame at the first game of the season. The marching band consists of over 100 members. (Courtesy of Jaidyn Palladini)

Band to perform at annual holiday parade

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
November 25, 2024
IMG_5073

[Photo] McNeal expresses passions for publications

November 23, 2024
IMG_5071

[Photo] Frank contributes to newspaper staff

November 26, 2024
Loving life: Reilly lives life to the fullest

Loving life: Reilly lives life to the fullest

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
November 22, 2024
Celebration. Students gather together for the annual Friendsgiving event on Nov. 21.

Friendsgiving brings the school community together

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
November 21, 2024
A world for the reading. A stack of novels all read and loved.

A guide to Bookstagram books

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
November 15, 2024
Listening in. On Oct. 18, the Navy Commodores came in to work with the Advanced Jazz Ensemble. After the clinic, they performed for the music students.

Navy Commodores visit Advanced Jazz Ensemble

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
October 28, 2024
Falling in love with reading. (Made in Cavna with Madison Aboud.)

October Book of the Month

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
October 23, 2024
Listening in. On Oct. 18, the Navy Commodores came in to work with the Advanced Jazz Ensemble. After the clinic, they performed for the music students.

Navy commodores work with Advanced Jazz Ensemble

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
October 23, 2024
Warming up. Navy Commodores do a dress rehearsal before performing on Oct. 18.

Playing a tune. The pianist for the Navy Commodores performed for music students.

Listen closely. Commodores watch on as the Advanced Jazz Ensemble perform for them during a clinic.

Loud and proud. The Advanced Jazz Ensemble performs for the Navy Commodores before being given feedback

Focused in. Juniors Isabella Abbott and Andrew Sackett focus in on their music during practice.

Shining talent. Senior Aleksander Swalga performs a solo during practice.

Read through. Junior Sage Bower focuses on her music while performing for the Navy Commodores.

Solo. Senior Seth Goheen stands to perform his solo during practice.

A proud moment. Advanced Jazz Ensemble director Larry Detwiler cracks a smile as he watches the ensemble perform.

Helping out. Senior Blake Riddle talks with other ensemble members during practice.

Listen in. Senior Griffin Hollen studies his music while listening to others play.

In the groove. The Advanced Jazz Ensemble performs many times throughout the school year and their music is always changing.

Playing in style. During their clinic, Advanced Jazz Ensemble members had the opportunity to ask questions to the Commodores. Some questions revolved around the type of instruments the Commodores own.

Hard at work. Many Navy Commodores play more than one instrument. Many showed off their skills during their performance.

Getting in the swing. Jazz vocalist Christine Hsia performed with the Commodores on Oct. 18.

Jazz hands. Navy Commodores are completely focused in during their performance.

Rapt attention. Students watch the Navy Commodores perform on Oct. 18.

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