Senior Issue 2026

THE

URLINGAME B Issue 6 Vol 136

Burlingame High School, 1 Mangini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010

May 19, 2026

Facilities set for a summer upgrade

BY JASON LU

Staff Reporter PHOTO BY EMMA YU

PHOTO BY EVELYN DU

PHOTO BY HENRY GARDNER

PHOTO BY INY LI

PHOTO BY HENRY GARDNER

PHOTO BY INY LI

PHOTO BY AUDREY WEI PHOTO BY PAIGE COR

GRAPHICS BY EMMA YU

NELIUS

PHOTO BY ADDISON CHU

BY PEILI BROWN

Staff Reporter

T

his summer, Burlingame plans to modernize classrooms as part of the Classroom Transformation Project, meaning teachers are expected to clear their classrooms by Friday, May 29, at 3 p.m. The project is funded by Measure L, a $385 million obligation bond approved by voters in 2020 to facilitate capital facility improvements across the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD). The bond recently funded the construction of the school’s gym. Alongside Burlingame, the Classroom Transformation Project is also taking place this summer at Capuchino High School.

According to SMUHSD Director of Facilities and Construction Charlie Royce, the plan at Burlingame includes replacing flooring and ceiling tiles, switching non-dimmable LEDs to dimmable LEDs, repainting classroom walls, redoing teaching walls, adding two whiteboard walls per classroom, and upgrading Wi-Fi by replacing fiber-optic cables.

While classroom items are expected to be cleared out by the end of May, the operations team began removing items over eight feet high in mid-April.

With many expected modifications to the classrooms, chemistry teacher Joshua Dyl said he was concerned about whether the construction would be completed by the beginning of next school year. “[What] I’m really worried about is they’re starting construction the day we leave, and they’re supposed to be done by the first day, a couple days before we’re back next year,” Dyl said. “And I kind of doubt it’s gonna be ready.”

Freshman Revell Garner said the classroom renovations could improve students’ comfort and ability to concentrate during class.

“The classroom having dimmer lights and better flooring will make the learning experience better, and the lights will make it so much easier to focus on things and not have your head hurt all the time,” Garner said.

While some students are in favor of the project, others feel that resources spent on classroom development would be more beneficial elsewhere.

“It’s worth the effort to improve Wi-Fi and the lighting,” freshman Avalon Harbin said.

“I’m not sure what’s wrong with the floor or the ceiling. I think that could be used for better projects and stuff. But I like that they’re trying to improve things.”

Despite concerns surrounding the construction, Royce said Cahill Contractors, SMUHSD’s contractor for Burlingame, has organized and divided the various classroom renovations into disposal, electrical, and renewal work groups to ensure an efficient project.

“The schedule that they’ve mapped out has every four days they’re in 10 classrooms, so they’ve divided up their work groups into seven work groups,” Royce said.

Along with transforming classrooms, SMUHSD plans to construct 23 new parking spaces at the front of the school over the summer, funded separately from the

See “ENROLLMENT,” page 2

2

THE BURLINGAME B Editor-in-Chief Joelle Huysmans Managing Editors Evelyn Du Henry Gardner Iny Li Design Editor Kaylee Hwang Sports Editor Kai Shah Social Media Manager Josie Wettan Business Manager Paige Cornelius Arts Director Emma Yu Head Photographer Oscar Bill Diversity Coordinator Abby Zarahn Social Coordinator Audrey Wei Copy Editors Alex Bertelli Akira Nakamura Olivia Newman Senior Reporters Chiara Wesley

Teacher Adviser Melissa Murphy Policy Statement: The Burlingame B is a student-run newspaper with the sole purpose of providing an open forum for student expression.

Anything printed represents the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily that of the Burlingame B staff, the administration, or the faculty of Burlingame High School, or anyone affiliated with the San Mateo Union High School District. The Burlingame B does not discriminate against race, political orientation, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Although The Burlingame B will never refuse to publish guest submission based on the aforementioned factors, we reserve the right to edit or not publish them.

Letters to the Editor Disagree with the writers? Bring your letters to the room A120 or email them to <theburlingameb@smuhsd.org>.

Letters may be considered for publication. The Burlingame B reserves the right to edit for clarity, length, and accuracy. We welcome all comments.

Website: www.theburlingameb.org Phone: (650) 558-2899 Email: theburlingameb@gmail.com Address: 1 Mangini Way, Burlingame, CA 94010

From pg. 1 obligation bond.

Next school year, Burlingame also expects to welcome around 50 more students than the typical class size, which will mean shifting classroom sizes and hiring new staff.

“We have a staff lounge that I’m intending on making smaller in order to make the rest of it into a classroom,” Principal Jen Fong said. “And we have A206 upstairs, A208 is a little bit small, so we’re intending to move the wall between History teacher Annie Miller has been working on packing up her classroom A206 and A208 to make it so one of all semester with help from her teacher’s assistant, senior Avery Speight. the rooms is very big, and one of Currently, Burlingame’s maxi- ber of classes below this maximum them is very small.”

Fong said the Classroom Trans- mum class size is 35 students. Ac- threshold. However, Dyl said sharformation Project and the plans to cording to math teacher Sonny Lau, ing has negative effects on teachers.

“There’s probably no positive address increased enrollment are classes reaching this size create unrelated, and attributed the latter minor challenges for students and effects,” Dyl said. “When I share teachers. a room, there’s somebody in here to recent hous“For math, I when I might normally be setting ing construcThere’s always really think it’s up labs, when I might be gradtion in Burlingame. gonna be something a subject where ing stuff, when I might be getting students require things together.”

“The coma personal touch With numerous facility changmunity of that pops up and at times,” Lau es underway, SMUHSD Facilities B u r l i n g a m e that we are gonna opened up have to troubleshoot said. “So with Manager Joey Tipton said his workmore students load has increased this school year mixed-income and work around. I in a class, then due to the newly constructed gymhousing over it’s a little hard- nasium, but he is prepared for the the last couple like the challenge.” er to assist stu- year ahead. of years, and - Joey Tipton, SMUHSD dents within their “I feel like we are [as] prepared that’s caused facilities manager personal needs. as we can be,” Tipton said. “There’s an increase in But overall, the always gonna be something that the population of the Burlingame neighborhood, amount of students in a class is still pops up and that we are gonna have to troubleshoot and work around. I which is then going to cause an in- within the acceptable range.”

Previously, Burlingame used like the challenge.” crease in enrollment at Burlingame classroom sharing to keep the numHigh School,” Fong said.

A letter from the editors For us, A120 is like a second home. If you’ve ever been friends with a journalism student, you know how many hours we’ve spent interviewing sources, writing articles, and stressing over deadlines.

You’ve probably also questioned why we dedicate so much time to something as seemingly trivial as a student newspaper.

The thing is, we don’t regret a single minute.

Journalism may have started as just a class, but it quickly became something more. As we explored what journalism

had to offer, A120 became a space where we could be passionate. Whether it be data journalism, opinion, or breaking news, each of us found our niche and pursued it inside and outside of the newsroom.

For the third year in a row, we were one of the first 20 school publications in the nation to earn the School Newspapers Online (SNO) Distinguished Site Award. We also expanded our multimedia program, earning our first-ever Best of SNO in multimedia. We can’t mention our achievements without addre-

ssing our advisor, Ms. Murphy, who has fundamentally changed our program through her energy and support for the last thirteen years.

Whether it’s robotics, arts, sports, or activism, we encourage you to put genuine care into what you do. A little bit of passion can go a long way.

Signing off,

GRAPHIC BY CHANTAL LAY

Staff Reporters Andrew Barrera Peili Brown Leia Burlingham Abigail Chou Addison Chu Lea Von Hagen Claire Hwang Scarlett Ko Chantal Lay Faith Lee Jason Lu Jonah Moss Eddy Josue Ortiz Elsa Scimeca

Enrollment expected to rise next year PHOTO BY JASON LU

B

May 19, 2026

News

May 19, 2026

3

News

District rescinds Bay Academy relocation Mills,” Berkovits said. “They would never have done that

BY CLAIRE HWANG with a GenEd population. To Staff Reporter think that our kids could be so easily moved around was just Over spring break, Burlin- horrible.” game Bay Academy parents Families and community received a phone call announc- members voiced their coning the closure of the program cerns by sending emails to the at Burlingame, meaning their district, including to Director children would need to relo- of Special Education Rochelle cate to Hillsdale or Mills High Hooks, and by attending the School. The Bay Academy pro- April 16 board meeting. gram serves students requir“We reached out to our ing supplementary educational friends and to our families and support. According to San Ma- to our kids, doctors, to their teo Union High School District therapists, to their friends (SMUHSD) Superintendent at Burlingame, and we asked Randall Booker, the decision them to please reach out to Suwas made to improve the qual- perintendent Booker and to Dr. ity of education for Bay Acade- Hooks and to the school board my students. to let them “ B y know how I talked to a lot placing detrimental the Burlin- of the kids about it this move game-based when they first found would be classes on to our stuout, and they were all dents and to campuses that already just sad to be leaving Burlingame host mul- their friends.” at large,” tiple Bay Nina BerkoA c a d e m y - Scarlett Gemmer, senior vits said. classrooms, “I think we we will create more robust, had probably 40 people and connected program sites,” 17 speakers who spoke to the Booker said, as quoted in the board and spoke to SuperinSan Mateo Daily Journal. tendent Booker about what this Nina Berkovits, whose son would do to everybody.”

Zane is a student in the Bay Senior Scarlett Gemmer is Academy program, said the enrolled in Unified Physical lack of communication and Education (P.E.) alongside Bay the abruptness of the decision Academy students, an inclusive were reckless. program that brings together “It was discriminato- students with and without disry. I thought it was careless, abilities. Gemmer is also the thoughtless. Wrong on so many president of Best Buddies, a different levels, and there was club that works to foster conno way I was sending Zane to nections with Bay University,

PHOTO BY AKIRA NAKAMURA

BY AKIRA NAKAMURA

Copy Editor

Junior Jamieson Trefz and freshman Angelo Vega-Delgadillo draw scientific ideas on a worksheet. a program for students with special needs who have graduated from high school. Because the class is small, Gemmer said she formed close connections with the Bay Academy students and heard their perspectives on the district’s initial decision to transfer the program.

“I talked to a lot of the kids about it when they first found out, and they were all just sad to be leaving their friends,” Gemmer said. “Also, it’s just less convenient having to go further for school, so I’m glad that it was retracted.”

According to Unified P.E. teacher Malcolm Davis, the change would have been especially problematic for Bay Academy students who may have difficulty adapting to new environments.

“Being a student who has special needs, or that is maybe neurodivergent, it can take longer than somebody who is considered to be gen ed, for them

to get acquainted to a new space,” Davis said. “So having already taken a long time to get acquainted to Burlingame High School, trying to now have them go to another school would have been something that definitely would have had its major challenges and issues.

So I definitely understand the reasoning behind why people were concerned.”

Freshman Bay Academy student Zane Berkovits said he likes the Burlingame Bay Academy program and would feel sad if he were forced to relocate. According to Berkovits, he has made connections during his time at Burlingame, including his work as the team manager for the football team.

According to Bay Academy teacher Patrick Myers, on April 21, just three weeks after parents were told about the relocation to Mills and Hillsdale, Booker retracted the decision.

“While our original intent

Fong and Malcolm depart from Burlingame

GRRAPHIC BY EMMA YU

GRRAPHIC BY EMMA YU

teacher, administrator, and coach of my children’s sports teams,” Fong said. “I was a student athlete, and Burlingame is such a big school for athletics, and I thought it would be the perfect fit for me.”

Fong is retiring at the end of this school year to spend more time with family and pursue her hobbies. As her career concludes, Fong hopes she has helped and inspired students as they have grown into young adults.

“I hope that while I was at Burlingame, I have been a voice for students that feel they don’t fit in,” Fong said. “I hope I had the kind of impact where I was a role model for people.”

In her first interview with the Burlingame B, Assistant Principal Aimee Malcolm said she wanted the school community to feel seen, heard, and validated. As she leaves Burlingame four years later, Malcolm said she hopes she has achieved that goal.

Malcolm joined Burlingame in the fall of 2022, though her career in education spans over 20 years. She said she was drawn to education, specifically teaching English, because of the impact it could have on students.

“I had several teachers that really had a positive impact on my life and made me believe in myself,” Malcolm said. “I always thought that the ability to read, communicate, and analyze well are super important and powerful for students. I thought it’d be fun to teach reading and writing.”

After graduating from high school, Malcolm attended California Baptist University and the University of Cali-

BY OSCAR BILL

Head Photographer PHOTO BY OSCAR BILL

PHOTO COURTESY OF NATALIE GYDE

Principal Jen Fong first started working with children when she was 16. Since then, she has spent the last several decades working at multiple schools across the country. Fong started teaching in New York City when she was 22, and after a brief stint in the United Arab Emirates, spent the next 30 years in California.

Fong attended Yale University and earned a degree in biology before receiving a principal certification from Stanford University and a doctorate in education from the University of California, Berkeley. While she initially intended to become a doctor, Fong realized education was her true path and became a teacher. After working in the San Francisco Unified School District for 20 years, she came to Burlingame.

“I thought Burlingame was a great way to combine my experiences as a

was to strengthen program access and opportunities for students, I recognize that the value of an established, supportive community is equally important and must be carefully weighed,” said Booker in an email to the parents, according to Nina Berkovits.

Instructional Aide Steve Meyer, who uses sign language to communicate with nonverbal or hard-of-hearing Bay Academy students, said he agrees with the district’s choice to retract its original decision.

“There’s a proper process for things like this, and the decision to move them was made with not enough input from the community,” Meyer said. “They heard the awesome, inspirational stories of parents and students from inclusion. I believe they made a wise decision to keep the program here.” *We reached out to Booker for comment, but he did not respond to our inquiries.

fornia, Berkeley, receiving a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration. Throughout her career, she has worked as a teacher, department chair, and assistant principal. Next year, she will serve as the principal at Graham Middle School. While Malcolm is excited for her next step, she said leaving Burlingame is bittersweet.

“I’m closing a chapter that I have some really fond memories of,” Malcolm said. “It’s bittersweet because I’ve had so many positive experiences with Burlingame, but I’m opening a new chapter that will grow my leadership skills.”

4

May 19, 2026

Senior Features

Students stride onward to military Hu pursues ROTC program

Quilliam sets sail to Navy

Senior Pollyanne Quilliam will enlist in the Navy after high school, continuing a family tradition and embracing an opportunity to begin her career in a new environment.

“I wanted to travel after high school, and I think the Navy can definitely make that work for you,” Quil-

GRAPHICS BY SCA

RLETT KO

For senior Nicholas Saldana, the high standards of the Marines and the opportunity for financial stability motivated him to enlist directly after high school.

“When I was looking at the Marine Corps and other branches, I was understanding that some branches would lower their overall standards to make

liam said. “I also thought I wanted to leave the Bay Area, because I call it a Bay Area bubble.”

Quilliam said boot camp will require her to become “comfortable with the uncomfortable.” According to Quilliam, one concern is her history of injuries, which could limit her participation in camp.

“I was one of those kids who would always be in the nurse’s office over something new every day,” Quilliam said. “When they’re looking at your medical history, they can disqualify you for certain things.”

Quilliam said she is excited about finding out where she will be stationed.

“We have a bunch of options within the U.S. and also overseas,” Quilliam said. “I’ve made my wish list, and number one, I would want to go to Washington.”

Katie Trevor – Mr. Larkin

ou for Thank y e m g in mak ome lc e w feel so nt vironme in an en lt out of fe where I .” e c la p

rabantes Zaphiro Ca rds – Ms. Edwa

[Mr. Thurtle] always brightens up my day when I se e him in the hallway . I am super thankf ul for him!”

Ren Tsunehara – Mr. Thurtle

Her positive energy is radiating.”

Sophia Yarmo – Ms. Murphy

their quotas for enlistments, but the Marine Corps would always be very strict about it. And even if you need a waiver for anything, they’re very strict about it,” Saldana said.

Saldana said he looks forward to his first year as a Marine and appreciates that the Marine Corps covers housing and medical expenses.

“And with that, it’s very easy to invest and scale up your investment strategies, so you can prepare yourself for your future,” Saldana said.

Saldana also said he wants to learn to be a good leader, along with becoming more disciplined.

“I like to think of myself as a follower before I’m a leader,” Saldana said.

“And then from there, just try and see how it would be for me, how would I be the best leader, and how could I be the best disciplined individual.”

Crawford commits to Cal

Senior Tyler Crawford will pursue the ROTC program at the University of California, Berkeley while majoring in economics. He said the program is a strong fit for his determined personality.

“I love to be pushed physically and mentally, past standards,” Crawford said. “And I just think I have kind of a

Shout-out to teachers Mr. Larkin alw ways knew ho h ug la e m e ak to m ving when I was ha his ith w y, da a bad and e ud positive attit ays w al e H s. ke dad jo ry ve made me feel ent.” seen as a stud

Sports Editor

Saldana scores Marine Corps PHOTOS BY KAI SHAH

Drawn to the long-term benefits of receiving a college education while training for the military, senior Max Hu will pursue the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, which trains students to become commissioned officers in the armed forces while earning a degree. Hu will attend the University of Washington, where

he will major in political science.

Although he first became interested in joining the armed forces as a kid, Hu said he did not take it seriously until high school, when he joined the Sea Cadets, a United States youth naval program focused on leadership development and community service.

“A lot of the volunteers were officers in the military, that really exposed me to that life,” Hu said. “And during the winter and summer breaks, I was able to go to military bases for more formal training.”

Hu said he hopes the experience will teach him responsibility, a necessary skill when leading a platoon of 30 to 40 people.

“At the end of the day, you’re gonna really improve as a person and also become a more philosophical person,” Hu said.

BY KAI SHAH

disciplinary mindset, and I just love to train my body and stay in shape.”

Before leaving for college, Crawford said he is attending a three-week New Student Indoctrination this summer.

“I’ll definitely get pushed physically, mentally, get yelled at, and I’ll have to maintain my composure with a lot of the stressors,” Crawford said.

For Crawford, one challenge will be balancing academic rigor with his commitment to the ROTC program, but he said he looks forward to building a strong brotherhood with his peers.

“I’m excited to meet these people and group myself with like-minded individuals who are all going for a common goal that better ourselves,” Crawford said.

GRAPHICS BY SCARLETT KO

BY OLIVIA NEWMAN

Copy Editor

I want to shout out Mr. Gnass because he no t only taught us a lot about real world scen arios within the econ omic realm, but crea ted a fun class environment.”

Maeve Gangu ly – Mr. Gnass You m a class de the really ny an fu d and o interestin ng, veral l mad my u e nd of ma erstandin th mu g with your ch easier style teach of ing.”

Vinny M – Mr. arucco Bennet t

I would like to thank Mr. Zozos for always putting his students first and making learning interesting for everyone.”

Nicole Montalvao Nascimento – Mr. Zozos

May 19, 2026

5

Senior Features

Four seniors earn Posse Scholarship The Posse Scholar Scholarship is awarded to outstanding seniors of diverse groups who are leaders and changemakers in their community. Students are granted a full-tuition scholarship to one of over 60 Posse partner universities. Ten scholars per partner school are accepted, and each cohort is mentored by Posse staff throughout college.

Adriana Tjader

BY ADDISON CHU

Staff Reporter

BY LEA VON HAGEN

Staff Reporter

Max Lomeli

Mia Robelo

Nicholas Khishigbat

Senior Max Lomeli was initially hesitant about a Posse Scholarship to St. Olaf College, but accepted it after realizing the scholarship would help his family in the future.

“I’m glad that I went through St. Olaf in the end, because my sister can get more money for her school. If she wants to go to a better school, she definitely can,” Lomeli said.

Lomeli said the scholarship helps create opportunities for families, especially those with multiple children.

“It’s important to have [the scholarships] because a lot of parents, a lot of families, have multiple kids, and although they can send them to school without many issues… it’s good to have them overall,” Lomeli said. “That way, we don’t really lose a lot of bright minds that can’t afford to pay for college.”

Senior Mia Robelo never considered Lehigh University before receiving a Posse Scholarship there, but she now believes it is a perfect fit.

“The scholarship kind of made me fall in love with Lehigh, in a way, because I didn’t really know the school at first, “ Robelo said. “So then once I got the scholarship and started researching it, I started realizing, ‘Wow, I really like it.’”

Robelo said the scholarship has given her a sense of community among the students in her Lehigh cohort.

“I really look forward to [going to college] because it’s with people that are like me and we can just talk about really deep and personal things like political views or religion and race and stuff like that,” Robelo said. “I think that’s really important.”

When senior Nicholas Khishigbat received a follow-up message from the Posse Foundation requesting another interview, he expected another round of selections. Instead, they announced he had won a full-tuition scholarship to Boston University.

“I went into the Zoom meeting after that, and out of nowhere, they just said, ‘Oh, congrats, you’re in.’ I was crying, I was shocked, because a full ride to Boston is pretty, pretty crazy,” Khishigbat said.

Khishigbat said earning the scholarship gave him external validation and confidence to pursue his future goals.

“Being a Posse Scholar means a lot to me because it shows that people are invested in my future and seeing that I can be a future leader,” Khishigbat said.

GRAPHICS BY OLIVIA NEWMAN

Senior Adriana Tjader decided to apply for the Posse Scholarship after learning about it from College and Career Advisor Jonathan Dhyne. She was one of the scholars who received a full-tuition to the University of Puget Sound.

“Genuinely, it’s probably the best thing that could have happened to me,” Tjader said.

According to Tjader, the interview process began with thousands of Bay Area candidates and was narrowed down to fewer than 100 students.

“It means that somebody saw potential in me that I didn’t necessarily know was there,” Tjader said. “I always pictured going to college, but I never thought that someone would be like, ‘I’ll pay for you to go to college because I see all this inspiring potential in you.’”

Bon Voyage: students go abroad Bella Brosnan Every summer since freshman year, senior Bella Brosnan has traveled with a group of high school students around the world for two-week-long projects. She has gone to Mexico for community service and to Iceland for photography.

In the fall, Brosnan will attend the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, majoring in history and Spanish. Her love for travel, combined with Scotland’s proximity to the rest of Europe, compelled her to apply and eventually commit to St.

BY ABBY ZARAHN

Diversity Coordinator

Grace Nash Andrews.

“I love travel, and so I think that really stuck out: being in an international school where I’m meeting a bunch of different people, and then the aspect of getting to travel and being so close to so many different other countries, because I’m in Europe,” Brosnan said. “I think that was a really big part of why I wanted to go to St. Andrews.”

For senior Grace Nash, finding a major that could complement all her interests was a priority, which is why she chose the University College Dublin (UCD) in Ireland.

Nash will study English, drama, and film in the fall through a combined major program, something she could not find in U.S. colleges.

“I was trying to look for a program like that in the U.S., but I didn’t feel like there was anything affordable or [that I could] get into,” Nash said. “So when

BY AUDREY WEI

Social Coordinator

I was looking at schools abroad, and I found this program, it just sounded really interesting to me, and with the different pathways, I thought I could use it well.”

Nash is also excited to reconnect with family and Irish culture while attending UCD. “My family and I are from Ireland, and most of my family is from there anyway,” Nash said. “So I thought it would also be a nice opportunity to spend time with people that I don’t really get the opportunity to see.”

GRAPHIC BY SCARLETT KO

Jian Acoba Since he was young, senior Jian Acoba has dreamed of being a commercial pilot. When going on vacation, one thing he always looks forward to is the plane ride.

In the fall, Acoba will attend De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila, Philippines, as an economics major. At DLSU, Acoba will be able to earn his bachelor’s degree in three years rather than the traditional four-year timeline.

After graduating, he plans to attend the two-year Philippine Airlines pilot training program.

Acoba also has family in the Philippines and hopes to build a stronger connection to Filipino culture while attending DLSU.

Chloe French-Evans

“One of the biggest reasons is my parents want me to be connected with Filipino culture more,” Acoba said.

Though nervous about attending college overseas, Acoba said he looks forward to adapting to a new environment.

“I’m really excited for this opportunity to just step out of my comfort zone a little bit and try to adapt to my surroundings,” Acoba said.

Having grown up in London, senior Chloe French-Evans always wanted to return to her childhood home. In the fall, French-Evans will be studying human nutrition at the University of Westminster.

“I chose it because I’ve always been interested in going internationally, and I think it’s a good opportunity to gain my global experience,” French-Evans said.

French-Evans also said she is excited to be living in a big city.

“The school has a big international population … and I look forward to being in central London in a big city,” French-Evans said.

With parents from Ireland and Australia and many friends living in the United Kingdom, she saw going abroad as a good opportunity to reconnect.

“Both my parents are immigrants, and so being international is normal to me,” French-Evans said. “I have some friends that I’ve grown up with.

They’re all going to university in the U.K., but not in London, and it’s exciting to be there.”

6

Senior Ma Washington

Colorado

Gonzaga University Udhanta Mishra-Agoram Mason Patch Seattle University Salaumi Lamichhane University of Puget Sound Ea Leialoha Adriana Tjader University of Washington Nicholas Armstrong Jack Clarke Hyman Dai Keira Good Max Hu Dax Mytels Dylan Rossen Anthony Wen Cole Weyer

Colorado College Emma Dugoni Colorado State University Lyla Cairns Nikita Mardakhaev University of Colorado Boulder Ellery Adams Skylar Arcenal Caden Droese Maeve Ganguly Grayson Howard Sebastian Lamb Halle Newman Miles Reeth Darren Wagner Thomas Wright Natalie Wylie

Oregon Oregon State University Hermela Flowers University of Oregon Samantha Arce Scarlett Bounds Jake Druskin Fabian Falconett Liam Philibosian

Idaho Boise State University Adi Evans

Utah University of Utah Kieran Kilgo Emma Wiley

Wisconsin Edgewood University Oscar Bill University of Wisconsin– Madison Scarlett Gemmer Syum Mehra Sofia Monteverdi Lily Peters Cassell Reese Kailen Shah Bryan Thompson

In

Indiana Bloom Samso Sophie Garret Kai Wa Purdue Ethan C Rohan

Minnesota Carleton College Kaylee Hwang St. Olaf College Maximiliano Lomeli University of Minnesota Twin Cities Jack Karel Eli Wright

California California Lutheran University Joshua Lim Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Keira Au Leyla Baghirova Aidan Berryman Daisy Burruto Thor Chew Jackson Davis Mia Espinosa Andrew Gall Dylan Hackos Lydia Jiang Aisling Muldowney Rachel O’Brien Madeline Rothstein Brooke Schuman Aria Sherwood Cal Poly Pomona Victor Mendiluce Cobos CSU Chico Caden Brosnan Madeleine Enriquez Sophia McGlenon CSU Long Beach Olivia Medina Cañada College Kimberly Rivera Hernandez Preet Mallen Devin Sosa Chapman University Aine O’Toole City College of San Francisco Sophia Guzman Bryce Quinn College of San Mateo Gladys Aguilera Motino Sedanur Batkitar Chinguun Batpurev Aaron Marshall Cifuentes Angel Pantoja Cruz Thierry D’Aguilar Cara Dowdall Dorothy Fung Jeffrey Galvez Paola Vasquez Gonzalez Kinsley Grabow Ricardo Gutierrez

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Austin Tsai Santa Barbara City College Daniel Stack Santa Clara University Sara Balach Kyle Igushi Michael Intrieri Stella Newman Logan White Skyline College Slade Flores Payton Fong Heady Stanford University Allison Duh University of California, Berkeley Noah Chiang Tyler Crawford Matthew Derossett Jay Kang Libbey Kwok Lindsey Kwok Iny Li Simon Limb Ivana Ma Kairah Maqsood Alexander Minakawa Lyra Sheng Levio Stagnaro Samantha Tom Elaine Tsai Gio Velasco Ting Ting Wang University of California, Davis Oliver Canniffe Azriel Cruz Emma Shi University of California, Irvine Sarah Chen Gaelle-Anne Foy Ryan Frank Adrian Gong Camille Man

Brandon Mark Avani Singh University of California, Los Angeles Derek Chen Serena Koopmans Emily Meng Mia Suffin Leah Terry Sophia Yarmolinsky University of California, Merced Natalia Cerc University of California, Riverside Garson Ng Skyler Wang University of California, San Diego Athena Bostonmaer Mischa Fellner Sophie Hua Miles McCormick Sankar Prathikanti Natalie Robbins Sahil Senger University of California, Santa Barbara Micah Chew Lila Edmondson Marlejean Mendoza Eva Mercer Audrey Sim Avery Speight

Chloe Sullivan Ren Tsunehara Ella Wilson Zach Wong University of California, Santa Cruz Melissa Aviles Cerna Camilla Man Athan Peters Jason Purkey Stanley Situ Zachary Zamalin University of San Diego Brendan Gilmore University of San Francisco Arlene Aldana Brianna Altamirano University of Southern California Alvina Baghirova Saskia Dankbaar Harper Fligel Katie Friedman Abigail Gorin Charlotte Guglielmi Alexandra Rivas Rosales Adam Zimmer

Tulane U Hannah

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Arizona Jonatha Shyla Ro Univers Enzo Ali Sophia M Liam Os Jean-Lu

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Indiana

Michigan

Indiana UniversityBloomington Samson Einhorn Sophie Lin Garret Wang Kai Watanabe Purdue University Ethan Cyb Rohan Shah

University of Michigan Francesca Caban Samantha Hollrah Jake Simon

Missouri Washington University in St. Louis Zadie Tsai

Nebraska Creighton University Zoey Hakes

Illinois Concordia University Chicago Kendall Gorshen Northwestern University Evelyn Du Henry Gardner Ron Veksler University of Illinois Chicago Grace Topliff

Ohio Case Western Reserve University Aleksandr Dozorov Catherine Kwong The Ohio State University at Columbus Quentin Bellemin GRAPHICS BY EMMA YU

New York Barnard College Michelle Chow Lucia Hayes Rowan Kelly Columbia University Joelle Huysmans Cornell University Finlay Hayes New York University Alexander Bozinovic Hayden Haba Mika Haggarty Alice Huang Lilah Shapiro Michelle Shay Syracuse University Oscar Caban Noah Woo

Massachusetts Boston University Rosemary Conant Nicholas Khishigbat Delphine Matthews Tyrus Zhang Brandeis University Kagan Goldstein Northeastern University Gwyneth Thacker Tufts University Kieran Clarke Ravi Krishnan

Pennsylvania Rhode Island Brown University Jaslene Lai

New Jersey Princeton University Allegra Terry Rutgers University-New Brunswick Caitlyn Fernandez Stevens Institute of Technology Reece Ho

Connecticut Louisiana Tulane University Hannah Mandel

Nevada University of Nevada, Reno Emerson Burri Chloe Mendez

Arizona Arizona State University-Tempe Jonathan Peterson Shyla Roy University of Arizona Enzo Alioto Sophia Mausehund Liam Ososki Jean-Luc Uharriet

Virginia University of Richmond Paige Altbaier

Tennessee University of Tennessee Miles Davis Vanderbilt University Paige Cornelius

Texas Texas Christian University Sophie Glick Katie Trevor The University of Texas at Austin Katie Jarrett

Yale University Aidyn Eglington Wint Lin Jack Vaksman

Georgia University of Georgia Adelle Farris

Florida Rollins College Haleh Ansari

Hawaii University of Hawai’i at Manoa Marina Chan

Carnegie Mellon University Adrian Su Lucas Zhu Dickinson College Maxim Temple Lehigh University Maya Blouse Ellora Horan Maliha Moran Mia Robelo University of Pennsylvania Ryan Liu Shai Ring Bryan Zhan Villanova University Ellie Nyhus

North Carolina Duke University Brinda Iyer Meghan Lee

South Carolina College of Charleston Haley Baird Harrison Evars

International De La Salle University Jian Acoba University College Dublin Grace Nash University of St. Andrews Bella Brosnan University of Westminster Chloe French-Evans

*Data accurate as of May 14

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May 19, 2026

Sports

Lift off: commited to the dream

Crew

EL I WRIG H T

SWIMMING

Soccer

Gymnastics

H ALE H AN S AR I

JAC K VAKS M AN

JOSH UA L IM

LACROSSE

Diving

SOCCER

K AT I E F R I E D MA N

KE ND ALL GO RS HE N

MAXIM TEMP L E

CREW

SOFTBALL

SOCCER

MI K A H AG G AR T Y

O S C AR B I LL

STEL L A NEWMAN

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY

S A N TA C L A R A UNIVERSITY

SOCCER

LACROSSE

cross country/Track & Field

PHOTO COURTESY OF STELLA NEWMAN

DICKINSON COLLEGE

PHOTO COURTESY OF OSCAR BILL

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKA HAGGARTY

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAXIM TEMPLE

CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF KENDALL GORSHEN

YA L E UNIVERSITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE FRIEDMAN

rOLLINS COLLEGE

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA LIM

University of M i n n e s o ta T w i n C i t i e s

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK VAKSMAN

University Of Washington

PHOTO COURTESY OF HALEH ANSARI

Case Western Reserve University

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELI WRIGHT

DYLAN RO S S E N

YA L E UNIVERSITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF DYLAN ROSSEN

PHOTO BY JOELLE HUYSMANS

C AT H E R I N E K WO N G

PHOTO COURTESY OF AIDYN EGLINGTON

AIDY N EG L ING TON

May 19, 2026

9

Senior Features

First-gen: bright futures ahead Olivia Medina

ICS RAPH

Staff Reporter

Alex Rivas Rosales

Ting Ting Wang

Senior Alex Rivas Rosales will attend the University of Southern California (USC) in the fall.

With the intention of pursuing medical school after graduation, Rivas Rosales said college has always been a part of her plan.

According to Rivas Rosales, the college application process made her feel like an outsider at times. She said she did not understand the importance of Advanced Placement (AP) classes or the SAT until later on in high school.

“A lot of times, I had to ask my peers or my teachers for additional support. So it was just a lot of having to learn how to advocate for myself,” Rivas Rosales said.

Although her parents did not know the details of her coursework or extracurriculars, Rivas Rosales said they still celebrated her efforts. “[My mom] would clean my room sometimes if it got too messy, and she could tell that I didn’t really have time to do stuff at home,” Rivas Rosales said.

To future first-generation students, Rivas Rosales said not to be afraid to ask for help from teachers and not to doubt themselves during the process.

“Good luck to future first-gen students. Give it your all,” Rivas Rosales said. “If you want it, you’ll get it.”

Senior Ting Ting Wang said she has been thinking about college since she was young. This fall, Wang will attend University of California (UC), Berkeley, which was her parents’ “dream school” for her.

“For me, my parents were just drilling, ‘Oh, good college. Good college.’ That was it, just the phrase ‘good college,’” Wang said.

Wang said she relied on herself during parts of the college application process, such as taking the SAT and finding tutors. Still, she received support from upperclassmen whom she met through sports and AP classes.

“I would reach out to them, and then they would help me out. They would give me general tips and advice through their lens,” Wang said.

Excited to attend UC Berkeley, Wang said her family toured the campus five times.

“I’m most excited to honestly branch out and join a bunch of clubs,” Wang said. “Of course, rigor would be difficult, but I’m excited to meet new people.”

Looking back, Wang advises students to look beyond resume-building and focus on meeting new people and pursuing personal interests.

“Your grades don’t define you. Your extracurriculars don’t define you,” Wang said. “Just have fun and do whatever is meaningful to you.”

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Senior Olivia Medina, who will attend California State University, Long Beach in the fall, said she always knew she would pursue a four-year college education.

As a first-generation student, Medina experienced difficulties during the college application process. Even with help from the College and Career Center, she said she still felt confused.

“It was very frustrating trying to fill out my applications, just because my parents had never gone through it, and so I didn’t have help from them,” Medina said. “I felt like my friends were always more prepared than I was.”

Medina said her parents were emotionally supportive and always left the decision of college up to her.

“I felt like college and going to college and getting good grades have always been my choice,” Medina said. “I’ve never really felt coerced into doing anything, college-wise.”

Medina said she is both scared and excited to step out of her comfort zone. She encouraged future first-generation students to “weigh their options” during the application process.

“I would tell them not to be too hard on themselves, and then to also definitely utilize any resources they can to help them,” Medina said.

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Satire PHOTO BY LEIA BURLINGHAM

An infected student is prohibited from entering the AP Statistics testing area.

BY LEIA BURLINGHAM

Senioritis Disease Officer Forget those college decisions and endof-year final exams — seniors across campus have been battling one of the severest epidemics yet: APathy, a new senioritis variant.

Symptoms include a complete lack of “chalance,” zero academic drive whatsoever, and needing 11+ hours of sleep nightly.

Senior Seymour Sliep, a victim of APathy, said every member of her friend group has been affected by the disease, including “that one nerd that still sits with us.”

“I mean, the prognosis, really, is that I won’t be able to take any of my AP tests,” Sliep said. “None of my teachers understand my condition, and I just don’t know why.

This is, like, serious. My livelihood is at risk.”

Nearly all students who have contracted the disease are unable to take their AP tests, but the College Board has refused to refund their money. However, the College Board did provide a “Sick/Late Test” option for infected students — for an additional $1000.

The No Interest in Homework foundation (NIH) stated that the new senioritis variant stems from Intensified Dissociation and General Academic Fatigue, or “IDGAF.” English 4 and journalism teacher Murphdawg witnessed the effects of APathy firsthand across her six class periods. Upon seeing the numerous toll it took on students, Murphdawg recalled feeling “intensely hopeless and unequivocally enraged.”

“By seventh period, students are completely out of it. As of late, victims have been missing a) School materials, b) Ability to read, and c) Just their intelligence in general,” Murphdawg said.

Administration has taken steps to disinfect the campus, though Principal Jen Fong and Assistant Principal Aimee Malcolm admit it’s a “hard case to crack.” Undeterred, the pair is collaborating with Advanced Placement (AP) Biology teachers to brew a serum that will force synthetic enthusiasm into students’ bodies. Around campus, this serum has been nicknamed “Redbull.”

“Admin is also dealing with patients that are too far gone to be cured,” Fong said.

“These measures include flex sweeps, Ms. Carter, and undercover hall monitors. Don’t worry, seniors. We’ll find you.”

BY JONAH MOSS

PHOTO BY JONAH MOSS

New senioritis variant: APathy

Hacky Sack Expert “I wish I could forget the whole thing,” sophomore Gerald Goober said.

In a friendly game of hacky sack, a rogue kick ended up striking Goober’s friend, sophomore Kristolph Binkee, in the shoulder, dislocating it and making him cry.

“Man, it was horrible to watch,” Goober said. “He was easily the worst sacker I’ve ever seen.”

Such is an all too prevalent pattern emerging at Burlingame. Filling the halls of late has been the familiar yet excessive sound of students sacking.

Principal Jen Fong, who is retiring at the end of this year, banned hacky sacks on campus in a final administrative effort before leaving.

“A month ago, students were disrespectful. Now they’re disrespectful and kicking yarn balls in my face,” Fong said while clearing her office.

Fong could not be reached for comment after students began blatantly defying her recent ban, only this time with protest-sloganed sacks.

“I don’t know what peace has to do with a bunch of guys sacking,” senior Baron Quinn said. “But I think it’s the spirit of the thing that counts.”

While members of the staff have shown concern that the ban is radicalizing students, the Athletic Department feels there are

A hacky sack actively poisoning the minds of students during lunchtime. more pressing issues. In the wake of hacky sack’s popularity, two kinds of sack-related injuries have grown rampant, sidelining star athletes and crippling Burlingame sports programs.

Seven baseball players caught terrible foot fungus after playing with an unregulated sack, the first incident to raise safety concerns.

Data entry from the nurse’s office shows that over 50 students have visited the trainer in the past three weeks for other sack-related injuries, logs that were found suspiciously hidden behind a toilet in the boys’ bathroom.

“This cover-up by the student body is truly astonishing,” Assistant Principal Aimee Malcolm said while driving away from the school.

Students’ attempts to hide the horrible impact hacky sacks are having on health and well-being are just further evidence of the unhealthy obsession many have with the sport.

Dr. Jimmy Ide Uhno, a renowned

BY ALEX BERTELLI

Copy Editor Edited by Rain Yang

GRAPHICS BY LEIA BURLINGHAM

ACROSS 2. Fong of former high school fame 4. “Because I said __!”

6. Just talk and talk and talk 8. Teachers’ favorite club to be forced to plan around 11. Disease that makes upperclassmen lazy (with a new variant!)

13. See 21-Down 14. Institution many people spend years in

15. “Unpopular opinion, ___...”

16. AVID coordinator with a fun-to-pronounce name 18. Anna who teaches architecture 19. “That’s sad...” or “That’s cute...”

20. Fun event you might try to get a 5 on (2 words) 22. Fun way to sustain brain damage at the school 24. Thing to play with

25. Older man, in slang 26. Class most are relieved to be out of after sophomore year 27. Number of spirit week participants, rounded to the nearest hundred 28. What you may pull when you haven’t studied for an upcoming test (2 words) 33. Students’ least favorite thing to read? (or do homework on)

child psychologist from Stanford University, was consulted to discuss these behaviors.

“We live in a time of advocacy,” Uhno said. “In such a fiery political climate, it’s no surprise such an atmosphere would take root in a high school. And what do children do when they can’t have something they want? They hold organized protests.”

And so they did, or tried to. Students soon lost concentration at a walkout protest as they were all drawn into hacky sack games, annoying parkgoers.

President Donald Trump sent the California National Guard to disperse the protest, but the soldiers ended up joining in on the play. While appearing to be a beacon of light in dark times, there was in fact a darker side to the intervention: approximately 50 members of the National Guard suffered severe injuries due to incompetent sacking.

DOWN 1. Old game console that pioneered Pong 2. Scary word to many students, often paired with “Get a ___” 3. If you don’t go to it you may be swept 4. Morse code distress signal you can tap with a pencil 5. Teachers’ favorite grading tool 6. Okay studying tool, great procrastination tool 7. It forms instantly after lunch starts 8. Gen-Z term for skill with the huzz, per se 9. You’re more than halfway to this age!

10. People’s favorite part of this newspaper 12. Favorite phrase from this year’s administration (2 words) 14. Standardized exam taken to prepare for another one (abbr.)

15. Writer’s ___: common symptom of 11-Across 17. Nocturnal bird with a sleep schedule slightly worse than yours 21. With 13-Across, surprise test!

22. Like this crossword (hopefully) 23. “I swear, __ God bro” 26. Panther __: your assigned yearlong friend 29. Texter’s expression of indifference 30. Burlingame ___: popular student lunch location 31. Zedong of former Chinese dictator infamy 32. “Sure, I guess”

May 19, 2026

11

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May 19, 2026

12

Memory Lane

BY CHANTAL LAY

Staff Reporter

BY SCARLETT KO

Staff Reporter PHOTOS BY THE BURLINGAME B STAFF

“My favorite memory at BHS is probably my junior year, when we went all the way to the CCS championship for football.

It was just really fun, a great bonding experience. I was still with the seniors above me and lower grades as well, all on that team.”

“My favorite memory was sophomore year homecoming, because it was really fun to get ready with my friends, and the DJ was really good.” - Sofia Monteverdi

- Ravi Krishnan

“My favorite memory was probably Breaking Down the Walls junior year, because I was able to be a leader and I thought that it was just such a good activity for our school to get closer with each other.”

“My favorite memory during high school was my soccer senior night because my friends walked out with me, and it was really supportive.

There was a big crowd there, cheering everyone on, and we won on our senior night, so it was a lot of fun.”

- Sophia Mausehund

- Natalia Spaelti

“My favorite memory would probably be being able to hang out with friends and being able to explore what I like, such as trying different classes such as drama and choir.”

- Michelle Shay GRAPHICS BY CHANTAL LAY