Snow falling outside, wood burning in the fireplace, and a whole day off from school is only weeks away for Watauga County teachers and students. The winter season is infamous for its early sunsets and chilling temperatures, which impact even the most winter-loving people. Staying home for long periods of time in the winter can become boring and unpleasant unless it is filled with an activity that is both enjoyable and productive.

After years of singing, reading music, and dedicating their time to choir, Watauga students Grey English, Sophie Helms, and Emma Price earned spots in the most prestigious choir program in North Carolina: the North Carolina Honors Chorus. Out of roughly 1700 auditionees, only 178 made the cut. After being selected by choir teacher Mr. Frankie Lancaster and weeks of preparation, the students impressed judges and will work with experienced directors before performing at a chora

The UNC Chapel Hill School of Government holds a comfortable spot at number two in the country for its local government management program. Undoubtedly, Dylan Russell has been key to this achievement. Russell serves as the Executive Director of Lead for North Carolina, an organization focused on purposefully placing UNC graduates in public service roles across the state.

In the age of digital streaming, physical media has fallen to the wayside. Physical music in particular has been hit especially hard by the advent of mass streaming services. When listening to your favorite song is as easy as one click, many students aren’t willing to buy record players or cassette players, much less bear the cost of building up a collection. In spite of these hurdles, there has been a revival in the world of CD, cassette, and record collection in the face of

Watauga Cross Country has a long, storied history of success. The men’s and women’s teams have consistently competed for conference and state championships since their founding. The women’s team has won the conference 74 times and states an impressive five times, while the men’s team has won 37 conference titles and three state championships. Helping to lead the charge for this year's men’s team is a surprising competitor, Evan Gordon.

After serving almost 10 years as the Student Council advisor, Britanny Maggard is ready to step down over a three-year phase out period. The decision to step away from Student Council was not an easy one to make, but when considering what her future might hold, Maggard has concluded that it is time to let a new teacher take on the program.

Did you know that Watauga High School has an athlete ranked 14th in the world in their sport? Her name is Rosemary Walker, and she is ranked 14th in the world for Scottish Highland dance.

The following mini documentary dives into the lives of exchange students currently being hosted by Watauga High School.

Competing for $4000 in renewable scholarships, trips to Washington, D.C., and free leadership training are all crucial parts of the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track. The program has opened the door to exclusive financial aid for numerous high schoolers, something that current sophomore Lillian Olson took advantage of. Through the program, Olson learned how to better her leadership skills, writing abilities, and public speaking. She joined the program as a freshman and wil

All schools in North Carolina require some form of instruction on the history of the Holocaust, with many schools offering a full honors-level course on the topic: Holocaust and Genocide Studies. In the class, students not only explore the intricacies and historical nuances of the Holocaust, they also explore other events such as the Armenian genocide, combining deeper analysis of well-known events with those less widely taught and understood.

On Monday, August 17 students rushed into Watauga High School with high hopes for the new school year. Typically, the first day of school marks the beginning of schoolwork and clubs. However, some high school students' responsibilities didn't stop at the end of last year, instead they continued through the two months of summer break.

Before Watauga senior Riley Olson imagined herself in the United States Air Force Academy, she was learning the skills of operating a saw mill and how to stay calm beside falling trees. With intense physical labor, Olson helped operate the crane on her father’s sawmill. As trees fell down, Olson learned how to juggle several things at once; it was an experience that made applying to the Air Force feel achievable.

This short documentary explores the history of Cherokee in the high country and the tribes tradition of storytelling, and features an interview with Patricia Winddancer Davis, a Cherokee clan mother. To find out more, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OtDgpvail8.

The Hospitality House pictured from a road above the non-profit on a gloomy day in February. Pictured are solar panels on the roof, which are often used to provide sustainable energy to a building. Photo Creds: Chloe Greer Chloe Greer, Photo Essay Desk Lead The homeless community is constantly longing for help and assistance, yet society has created an undeniably negative stigma that gives people in need a bad reputation. It is common that people do not put time, energy, or m

Members of Mountain Alliance visit Savannah, Georgia to learn more about the environment and spend valuable time outside. From left to right, top row Evelyn Whitmore, Anneliese Daugherty, Thang Pham, Samuel Cheves, bottom row Olive Malay, Zadie Meier, Eleanor Connell, Theresa Copenhaver, Maddox Gerrish, and William Lynn. Photo creds: Theresa Copenhaver Carrie Bradbury, Review Desk Lead In the age of social media, video games, and other technology-driven activities, younger ge

Lauren Okubo Peviani, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn, introduces the Watauga High School's Graduating Class of 2026 through a 5-minute video featuring eight seniors.

Two small rural schools come together to discuss the similarities and differences of their high school's opportunities, culture, and their overall experiences. This video interview can be accessed here:

Watauga’s school culture has always owed much to the theater department. Between the annual musical and the numerous class plays, there is something theater-related happening all year long. One person who makes this possible is Ms. Sarah Miller, one of the two theater teachers. Between her thirty years of teaching in North Carolina and her twenty years at Watauga, she has become a fixture of the school and guided the theater department toward being the organized, well-oiled m

A photo of Watauga County’s city hall, located at 814 West King Street in downtown Boone. Photo Credits: wataugacounty.org Grant Painter, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn While typical Watauga High School seniors find themselves focusing on college applications, studying for AP tests, and deciding which prom group they’ll be a part of, Lucy Dees finds herself balancing those traditional high school concerns with town council agendas, meetings, and municipal policy as an intern

4TM rehearsing at bassist Oliver Blain’s house. Photo Credits: Oliver Blain. Pictured left to right: Brayden Mack, Oliver Blain, Jedidiah Verling. The band often holds rehearsals and records demo tracks at Blain’s house. Ian Biles, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn Boone’s music scene is a vibrant community. The town's unique mix of bluegrass history and newer indie and metal scenes combine to create a music environment that is entirely unique. Boone’s music scene has produ