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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
  • March 28Breakfast 03/28/25 - Pancakes with Bacon
  • March 28Lunch 03/28/25 - Toasted Texas Triple Cheese Sandwich
  • March 28Announcements for 03/28/25
  • March 27Breakfast 03/27/25 - Egg and Cheese Croissant
  • March 27Lunch 03/27/25 - Pittsburgh Chicken Salad
  • March 27Announcements for 03/27/25
  • March 26Breakfast 03/26/25 - Biscuit with Country Gravy
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

Hard at work. A student works on a project during his class time at the GACTC. Students from the high school have the opportunity to attend the GACTC to explore their interests outside of the high school setting. (Photo Courtesy of Adrian Pacifico)
GACTC holds job interviews for seniors
Charlie Kephart, Editor in Chief • March 28, 2025

In recent weeks, students at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center (GACTC) have been practicing job interviewing and resume skills....

A group of students stand outside the student store waiting for it to open. These seven students waited until the door opened five minutes into the period.
Student store policies changed
Haven Femea, Reporter • March 25, 2025

The student store currently operates before school, during first period, fourth period and eighth period. On Feb. 3 student council adviser...

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

Junior Ryker Scriver recently was named a Challenge Program finalist. On March 25, Scriver will be presented with a $2000 reward. This will be...

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QUICK NEWS

Students visited the Christmas market a few years ago and emerged in cultural experiences. (Courtesy of Veronica Skomra)
Foreign Language Club to attend field trips this spring
Cevin Dively, Reporter • March 28, 2025

Foreign Language Club (FLC) has several field trips planned throughout the month of April. Their cultural food fair, tea at Baker Mansion, a joint field trip with Astronomy...

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The future of medicine. Biomedical science students line up for a photo at Allegheny General Hospital. Classes are invited yearly to observe surgeries. (Courtesy of Rebecca Skebeck)
Biomedical science students attend heart surgery
Lincoln Frank, Associate Editor • March 26, 2025

On March 11, students from biomedical science classes had the opportunity to witness open heart surgery...

Stellar performance. Esworthy earned a medal for their placement at the LHHSSL Regional Tournament. The senior was thrilled when they found out. "I competed in [the dramatic interpretation] category, because it's similar to the poetry I've written in the past, and it entailed a lot of emotional topics, which was super fun to perform," Esworthy said. (Courtesy Julie  Storm)
Storming to the top: Alex Esworthy intertwines poetry, theater in Speech League tournament
Melissa Krainer, Reporter • March 26, 2025

Drama. Expression. Creativity. The Speech League team combines all of these elements in an environment...

Vietnamese student navigates new country mid-year
Vietnamese student navigates new country mid-year
Mack Callan, Reporter • March 25, 2025

In the beginning of March, sophomore Huyen Nquyen moved from Vietnam to the United States. She started...

Locked in. Senior Randy Grove and junior Camdyn Keefer pay attention to one spotlight speaker.
Speaker series offers career insights
Lincoln Frank, Associate Editor • March 14, 2025

The new Spotlight Speaker Series seeks to help students make informed decisions about their futures,...

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( Photo courtesy of Andie Kephart )
Winter Sports Standout Athletes
Emma Hovan, Reporter • March 19, 2025

Mary Stoltz - Indoor Track Q&A with Mary Stoltz Q: What motivates you to perform at your best? A: "My teammates. They are very supportive and I want to perform well...

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Mountain Echo Voices – Opinion/Editorial

Welcome to the Opinion Section of the Mountain Echo.  These opinions do not represent the opinions of the school or school district but those of the students.

A student displays her Alani energy drink in class.
Alani versus Celsius: the better energy drink
Makayla Garner and Payton Gibson March 28, 2025

"Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams" by friskytuna is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
The Notebook proves to be a timeless classic
Bana Idriss, Guest Reporter • March 28, 2025

“The Notebook” is one the best movies ever made. It's a beautiful love story that can change your view on ¨true love¨. The movie is based on a book by Nicholas Sparks,...

The boys volleyball team rallies together during practice. Volleyball will be one of the spring sports this year. (Photo Courtesy of Adeline Bottechier)
Volleyball overlooked in spring sports lineup
Lucas Morrissey, Guest Reporter • March 26, 2025

Spring sports have always provided athletes ways to take advantage of the weather turning from a harsh winter to a mushy spring. Some of the most popular being baseball and...

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Neon nostalgia. "Mister Magic" explores what happens to the things that get left in the past. The novel was Kiersten White's 2023 release.
March Book of the Month
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • March 23, 2025

Mister Magic, the elusive cloaked figure of the kid’s show with the same name, has plagued the memories of the rest of the cast for years. These other cast members, called...

Editorial Cartoon
Editorial Cartoon
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • March 28, 2025

A person pays using their cell phone with the instant electronic payment mode known as PIX, at a store in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 1, 2024. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
Letter to the Editor: Cell Phones
Dante Diehl, Contributor • February 25, 2025

This is a letter on why kids should have phones on our person in school, and I will go through three...

Podcast Corner
Left out. Especially after people have begun to drift from a group they were close with, finding a new crowd can be difficult. Being open-minded to having new connections can easily combat this by assuring that people can make friends after a falling out.
High school experience hindered by lack of opportunity for interaction
Editorial Board March 28, 2025

Throughout the school year, many students find themselves grouped in with the same students almost all day. Not only this, but being around the...

"The Lighthouse" is available for streaming on Max. The movie ran for 110 minutes.
Last night’s movie [6]
Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker March 28, 2025

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March 30
73°/ 56°
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March 31
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Moderate rain
April 1
54°/ 33°
Partly Cloudy
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