Mountain Ridge High School students finally have a place to showcase their literary and artistic talent. The first edition of “Echoes from the Ridge,” MRHS’ first ever literary magazine, was published in December and a second issue is already in the works.

Language arts teacher Caitlin Leek was on the literary magazine staff in her high school and loved the experience--that teacher is the reason she is a teacher today — so she wanted to provide that same opportunity for her students. Each semester a staff of students will publish an issue.

“I just have so many students who write and want to show me all their stories and poems, and show everyone their stories and poems and art,” she said.

MRHS senior Kenneth Noyce, who was on last semester’s staff and has returned for this semester, said with the first issue, the staff wasn’t sure what to expect. He was shocked by how many people were willing to submit their work.

“We got to see a bunch of cool writing and art,” Noyce said. “There was a lot of writing, and I didn't think there would be as much writing as there was, but there was, and there was a good amount of art.”

Staff members evaluated the submissions and chose 28 poems and short stories and 22 visual art pieces that fit within the issue’s theme “Illusions.” The 136-page book was sold for $10.

“I think it went above my expectations, because it was the first semester and I was just hoping we got something out and it turned out amazing,” Leek said.

She is thrilled to work with such a hard-working staff. In addition to choosing pieces to feature, students also select a theme and design and promote the magazine.

Art Editor Trevor Brown said he thinks the first magazine was well-received by students.

“I know it affected me a lot just being a part of the team and seeing all the amazing submissions,” he said.

Brown, who is on the staff again this semester, has high hopes for this next publication.

“I’m hoping it will be better than the first one — and the first one was pretty amazing--but we’ve learned a lot since last time,” he said.

Noyce, Brown and Braydon Greer are the three returning staff members, joined this semester by three new students with various experience. 

Ryle Diel, who heads up the social media and advertising, has experience as a producer for the school’s news program. She likes being part of creating a safe space for people to share their personal writing and art.

“It lets people be creative and it lets people express themselves,” she said.

Cassidy Rawlings, whose song lyrics were published in last semester’s magazine, is now on the staff and plans to submit more of her work for the upcoming issue. She believes the magazine is a way to preserve this moment in time.

“It’s kind of good as a time capsule-type thing,” she said. “You can look back and see what people's feelings were at the time, and how your writing and opinions have changed.”

The staff is hopeful that the first issue will inspire more students to submit their work for the upcoming issue (deadline is April 20). Writing is rated on quality of writing, originality, voice and flow, and artwork is judged on visual appeal, creativity and originality. From the highest rated pieces, the staff will choose work that fits the issue’s theme, “Light in the Window.”