For the Blaine High School class of 2026, there’s a lot to reflect on in the days counting down to flipping their tassels. For some, it’s their accomplishments at a state technology competition, while for others, it’s a theater program that felt like home or late night talks at McDonald’s after cheering at Borderite stadium.
Just like their tassels, a new page will turn for 119 graduating seniors on Saturday as they ceremonially end their high school careers and start their futures — whether that’s in Blaine, across the state, or even in a different country.
Below are five Borderites who share their journey and where they plan to go next. Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
MILO DAHL
Milo Dahl.
What were you involved in during your high school career?
I was part of the basketball and soccer teams, and several clubs such as the Technology Student Association and Health Occupations Students of America. Basketball was probably my favorite. I just love the sport and was around so many people I enjoyed being around. It was lots of fun.
How does it feel to be graduating right now?
Surreal, or just more excitement to graduate. I’ve been at the high school for four years, and I’m ready to move on.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m waitlisted from the University of Washington, so I’m still waiting on a response from them. I’m currently committed to Bellevue College to pursue a career in finance.
I’ve enjoyed math primarily as a core subject at school. I took a couple of business classes my freshman year and since then I was interested in how money is involved in the world and investments. It stuck with me.
When reflecting on your high school experience, what’s one memory that stands out the most?
I can’t pinpoint a specific memory, but privilege is the first word that comes to mind. Both of my parents work in the school district, and I see how much my parents care for these students. I have a great group of friends, and I feel like I can always go to someone.
What do you want the community to know about the graduating class?
Everyone in this class is great. In my friend group, we all know where we are heading and look forward to keeping in touch with everyone.
TESSA COBB
Tessa Cobb.
What were you involved in during your high school career?
What wasn’t I involved in? I was in honor society, theater, Future Farmers of America, HOSA, knowledge bowl and broadcasting.
With HOSA, I had the opportunity to go to state for one of my competitions and then I qualified to go to internationals for it. FFA had a great community, and it helped me see what I wanted to do in the future.
How does it feel to be graduating right now?
Bittersweet. I can’t wait to graduate and go onto the next steps of life, but it’s also scary going out of my comfort zone by going to college and leaving my friends behind.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m going to Washington State University in the fall for agricultural education and then hopefully I’ll come back to Whatcom County to teach. Last summer, I got to raise a couple of show lambs with FFA and take them to the fair. I got to teach the public about agriculture, and my project showed me I wanted to do teaching.
When reflecting on your high school experience, what’s one memory that stands out the most?
Going into high school for the first time because I was homeschooled for a while, so I liked meeting a lot of friends and learning about the different activities.
Also going to my first state competitions. Having the opportunity to go to those and meet new friends from across the state. I have an Individualized Education Program, so having the ability to do that while having learning disabilities is really cool.
What do you want the community to know about the graduating class?
The class is appreciative of how much community support we’ve had, from seeing them come to plant sales, choir and band concerts. Just being able to see a community and how they’ve helped our class.
WALKER HENNING
Walker Henning.
What were you involved in during your high school career?
I was in theater and was chamber choir president. I did a lot of short films in video production. I’ve always been in love with art like visual art, music, film and acting. I’ve done it a lot, and I’ve done a lot of plays in Lynden.
The theater community was great. Ms. T (Olivia Theilemann), our theater teacher, was very inclusive and felt like a friend. Mr. (Andrew) Marshall, our choir teacher, brought us all together. If he saw someone with any ounce of talent or someone who seemed like they’d be great in our group, he’d beg us to join.
How does it feel to be graduating right now?
It’s a little scary. I feel like it’s gone by super fast. I’m excited for the future. It’s very different.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m working in the summer with my dad and then going to Vancouver Film School in September because film is where my heart is. I’m excited that it’s a new country. I plan to go into the film industry as a writer and director. I want to work on gangster films, like (Quentin) Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, and detective noir films.
When reflecting on your high school experience, what’s one memory that stands out the most?
There’s a time where a lot of people didn’t really like me, and it was a huge struggle, but I found my people in the arts through chamber choir and my band. I have a band called Negative Sense and we do reggae music. Our principal gave us a room so we were able to play music all of the time. It was such a cool opportunity making music and having the cafeteria listen.
What do you want the community to know about the graduating class?
It’s a lot of people who are in different groups, but we all mix together.
AINSLEE ELLIS
What were you involved in during your high school career?
I played volleyball, bowling, softball and tennis. And some clubs, too, like HOSA and the Associated Student Body. I liked tennis the best because our environment was so great and our coaches were so fun.
How does it feel to be graduating right now?
It feels kind of crazy because I’m the youngest sibling, so I’m used to seeing other people graduate and now it’s my turn. I’m ready for this new chapter.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on going to Washington State University to become a high school history teacher. My world history teacher Mr. (Michael) Grambo made me fall in love with school and made everything so enjoyable, so I wanted to become a teacher because of him. We did diplomacy games, so it was a lot of makeshift wars that made you do research and get involved in history. It was more activity based than just lectures.
When reflecting on your high school experience, what’s one memory that stands out the most?
Going to the boys soccer games with my friends. We made it a tradition to go to every home game. We’d lay on the rail in the front row of the student section and come up with fun cheers, and then we’d meet up with our friends who were on the team after and play on the field.
What do you want the community to know about the graduating class?
We’re a really special class. There’s a lot of us who have been here from kindergarten through senior year. We’re super close and everyone gets along. It’s a great community.
JACK BALDWIN
What were you involved in during your high school career?
I was part of the Technology Student Association club. I was in HOSA my sophomore year because I thought I needed to figure out my career, and I was thinking about doing chiropractic medicine. I was involved in being present at sports games and around my friends.
Then I got more into engineering, and that’s where TSA came in because a lot of it is regarding robotics and design. I presented projects with my friends at the state level.
Borderite News was a live broadcast we’d do every three weeks for the school. I started doing it halfway through my junior year, and I'll always wish that I started it earlier.
How does it feel to be graduating right now?
It’s a little weird, but I’ve accepted it. It’s cool because all of my brothers went through Blaine and I’m the last Baldwin boy going through Blaine. It’s nice to know that I’ve made it and I graduated. I did all of the hard work and came out the other end. It’s a very satisfying feeling.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m doing online classes over the summer at Bellevue College. I’ll be getting my associate’s degree and then transferring to a four-year, hopefully the University of Washington, to study architecture. We’ll see where that takes me.
I love math way more than anything else. I also really like the art aspect of it. The way I thought of it was art mixed with math, and that’s everything I liked.
When reflecting on your high school experience, what’s one memory that stands out the most?
Going out to eat with my friends after watching games — basketball, football, soccer. It was always a surefire thing that we’d go to McDonald’s, and it was a time when I knew I could hang out with everyone.
What do you want the community to know about the graduating class?
It’s a really solid group of people. There’s a lot of potential in every last one of them. There’s a lot of really strong, really kind people. It’s been great to grow up with them in such a small town. I’ve known basically everyone in my grade. I think they’re going to do a lot of good.
