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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
  • December 20Breakfast 12/20/24 - French Toast
  • December 20Lunch 12/20/24 - Cheesy Breadsticks with Sauce
  • December 20Announcements for 12/20/24
  • December 19Breakfast 12/19/24 - Bacon, Egg and Cheese Croissant
  • December 19Lunch 12/19/24 - Turkey Stack
  • December 19Announcements for 12/19/24
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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
Makenzie Closson

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor

My name is Makenzie Closson. I am a second year member of the Mountain Echo and Horseshoe yearbook staffs. Last year, I became a PSPA finalist and even won first in the state for yearbook copy writing. Besides just being involved in the publications, I’m a competitive dancer. I also enjoy playing my guitar, creating art and film making. After high school, I plan to attend a film school to become a director.

All content by Makenzie Closson
Letters from my room: the virtues of being a woman

Letters from my room: the virtues of being a woman

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
May 15, 2024
It’s me Joseph. Sophomore Camille Krug stands with a smile on her face before receiving a hug from another brother, Joseph.

Drama showcase to be held

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
May 10, 2024
Letters from my room: the self estrangement phenomenon

Letters from my room: the self estrangement phenomenon

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
May 8, 2024
Artsy morning. Sophomore Marli Closson travels with the yearbook staff to paint pottery at the Clay Cup. The yearbook staff took a field trip there to celebrate the ending of the year. The trip took place in the middle of spring, and the walk downtown was rainy.

Letters from my room: habits I've outgrown

Letters from my room: habits I’ve outgrown

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
April 24, 2024
Hey there. During first and second period, Reptiland came to visit the students interested in biology. Senior Nora Reed makes good friends with an Iguana from Cuba.

Prom and AfterGlo planning in progress

Prom and AfterGlo planning in progress

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
April 18, 2024
Nittany Nation. To tie in with the press conference from Sarah Higgins, the iconic Nittany Lion symbol suddenly had much more impact.

A day in review at PSPA

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
April 16, 2024
Getting it done. Freshman Emmalee Martyak works on her story for the Mountain Echo. The year is quickly wrapping up for news writing students.

Letters from my room: fitting into a standard makes you unlikable

Letters from my room: fitting into a standard makes you unlikable

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
April 10, 2024
Helping hand. Junior Addisen McDonald puts her name on a sign up sheet. McDonald is signing up to help with Senior Week, a week with activities planned for seniors before they graduate.

Letters from my room: Aging feels like a discrepancy

Letters from my room: Aging feels like a discrepancy

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
March 26, 2024
Behind the screen. Senior Olivia McMinn works on finalizing pages for the yearbook. McMinn is the editor in chief for her senior year, and has to prepare the pages for their final sendoff to the plant.

Letters from my room: dealing with the doom

Letters from my room: dealing with the doom

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
February 13, 2024
Helping hand. Mike Baker helps Wanda Vanish out in room B130 when the printer broke. Luckily, Vanish uses two printers in her room because of the demand of printing out yearbook pages.

Letters from my room: the epidemic of short attention spans

Letters from my room: the epidemic of short attention spans

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
January 30, 2024
Working hard or hardly working. Despite the third marking period giving students new classes to add to their schedules, junior Addisen McDonald still has her head focused on the year-long class, trigonometry. "Sometimes it's hard to balance my core classes when I get new things thrown at me," McDonald said.

The best of the worst: worst and best movies of 2023

The best of the worst: worst and best movies of 2023

Makenzie Closson and Mattie Baker
January 8, 2024
Spreading cheer. Junior Rylie Keagy helps decorate a Christmas tree during second period. Keagy is an editor for the yearbook and spends most of her time in adviser Wanda Vanish’s classroom.

[Photo] Winter Wonderland

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
December 8, 2023
Letters from my room: how to be content while being alone

Letters from my room: how to be content while being alone

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
December 5, 2023

Therapy Dogs

Addisen McDonald and Makenzie Closson
November 20, 2023

Halloweek

Addisen McDonald and Makenzie Closson
November 3, 2023
Speaking to make a change. Meghan Stewart gives a heartfelt speech on Oct. 25 at the Girls Night Out banquet. Stewart shared her story on overcoming cancer.

The light at the end of the tunnel

Makenzie Closson, Associate editor
November 3, 2023
Going for the win. Senior Nathan Lutz plays in the turkey bowl with his team. His team Tom & Joes Turkeys went to the championship vs. The Hot Hens.

[Photo] Flag football benefits everyone

Eric Weyant, Reporter
October 31, 2023
On Oct. 13, Sipes posted his official announcement on Instagram. (Courtesy of Luke Sipes)

Pinning down Princeton

Makenzie Closson and Addisen McDonald
October 23, 2023
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[Photo] Echo in the Halls: Homecoming Edition

Addisen McDonald, Reporter
October 5, 2023
New beginnings. All the participants involved within getting the sensory garden to come to life gather together at the ribbon cutting ceremony. On Sept. 21, the garden was officially opened for the entirety of the school.

Growing together

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
October 3, 2023
Barbie goes up against Oppenheimer

Barbie goes up against Oppenheimer

Lincoln Frank and Makenzie Closson
September 21, 2023
Food for thought. Students enjoy their daily lunches - free for the second time.

Food for thought

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
September 8, 2023
Teams of teachers and students helped at sites across Altoona on Tuesday May 30. Groups painted, spread mulch, cleaned areas and more to help beautify the city.

Juniors, seniors help Altoona for ‘Toona Tune Up

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
May 31, 2023
The art of human connection

The art of human connection

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
May 31, 2023
Keep Breathing. Freshman Emerson Snare runs in long distance at the meet on April 11, 2023.

Track

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
May 22, 2023
Senior publication members say goodbye

Senior publication members say goodbye

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
May 11, 2023
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Taylor_Swift_%286966830273%29.jpg

The lyrical genius of Taylor Swift

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
April 26, 2023
The day after this column was written the school was placed in a lockdown for an active shooter threat. Although the threat was determined a hoax, at the time all those involved believed it to be real and responded as such. Many parents reported to the school to pick up students and filled the parking lot.

How to hide from the elephant in the room

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
March 31, 2023

[Video] Echo in the Halls – Mountain Echo Edition

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
March 27, 2023
Mike Reid plays "I Can't Make You Love Me', a song he originally wrote in 1990. The song was written for Bonnie Raitt, and was recorded by hundreds of different artists.

Mike Reid: football, music and everything in between

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
March 21, 2023
Students gather to cast their March Madness votes. The winner of the bracket will receive a prize granted by administration.

Teachers advance in March Madness

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
March 6, 2023
image0 (3) (1)

Letters from my room: writer’s block

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
March 2, 2023
Best Buds. Senior Cassidy Klock and freshman Madison Aboud share advice for new high school students.

[Photo] Senior, freshman share high school advice

February 22, 2023
At the most recent school board meeting, much information was shared relating to the district budget.

Schooling on a budget

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
February 15, 2023

Pajama Editorial Cartoon

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
February 6, 2023
Matteson and her class stand outside where the sensory garden is planned to be built.

Sensing something new: AAHS plans for sensory garden

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
February 1, 2023
A Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly was found on the concrete near State College. This Swallowtail has a broken wing and can no longer fly.

Why do we step on bugs?

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
January 20, 2023
Fun! News 1 students doing a cookie competition for their games day. The two winners for the competition were sophomore Abigail Rudy with her sugar cookies and freshman Miley Naugle with her Hershey kisses blossom cookies.

[Photo] Mountain Echo Christmas Cookie Competition

Abigail Rudy and Ryan Longstreth
January 6, 2023
Teamwork. The girls' gymnastics team huddles together before starting their meet. The meet took place on Jan. 4, 2023.

[Photo] Gymnastics meet Jan.4

March 9, 2023
Always Working. According to Yale News, nationwide, 21,678 U.S high school students feel tired and unmotivated.

High school kills creativity

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
December 19, 2022

December 2022 editorial cartoon

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
December 16, 2022
Hunters kill about six million white-tailed deer during each season. 65 percent are killed with a firearm.

The desire to kill: hunting season

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
December 14, 2022
Golden Smile Abigail Herncane smiles as she is being crowned as the Homecoming Queen. Herncane was announced as the Homecoming Queen on Sept. 30.

[Photo] Homecoming isn’t popularity contest

Editorial Board
December 5, 2022
Senior Morgan Stevens calls for her teammate's help during the Turkey Bowl. The Turkey Bowl event started in November 2021.

[Photo] Tom and Joe’s Turkeys, Hot Hens advance to Turkey Bowl championship

Cassidy Klock, Editor in Chief
November 22, 2022
Turkey Bowl to be held on Nov. 22

Turkey Bowl to be held on Nov. 22

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
November 21, 2022
Dance studios are where the majority of dancers or even cheerleaders spend their time practicing. Comfortable spaces where young teenagers devote most of their time should remain safe and positive.

Unhealthy eating habits in female-dominated sports

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
November 16, 2022
From the Locker Room: episode one

From the Locker Room: episode one

Cassidy Klock and Makenzie Closson
October 26, 2022
True crime, a phenomenon, has taken the world by storm. From new documentaries being released by the month, the real question is what keeps the viewers so enticed?

The problem with true crime

Makenzie Closson, Associate Editor
October 25, 2022
Get hyped. Representing Kadyn Karate Krew, Olivia McMinn cheers from the sidelines.

Homecoming games night

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
October 17, 2022
Apple TV+ "Severance" was released on Feb. 18, 2022. The show features nine episodes and has been renewed for a second season premiering February, 2023.

AppleTv+ “Severance” creates mind-blowing television

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
October 11, 2022
Students gather in Madilyn Ober's classroom to prep for a test with a Kahoot. Ober joined the faculty staff this year.

Madilyn Ober

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
September 16, 2022
Empty tables, empty stomachs. Every school day during fifth period, students gather to eat lunch. The cafeteria workers prepare lunch everyday for the students.

Food for thought: why school lunches should be free

Makenzie Closson, Reporter
September 20, 2022
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Makenzie Closson