The BranchOut! Blog

The chapter's continued growth also reflects the dedication of its student leadership team, whose vision and commitment have helped expand BranchOut!'s impact throughout Howard County. The 2025–2026 leadership team includes Ethan Gao as Chapter Head; Clara Luo as Assistant Chapter Head and Mabelle Liu as Senior Director of Education, all of whom serve as BranchOut!’s national board members as well.

On June 30th, BranchOut! was deeply honored to receive the Outstanding Community Organization Award at the National United Chinese American (UCA) Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. This milestone recognition reflects the incredible dedication of our mentors, student leaders, advisors, community partners, and supporters who have helped shape BranchOut! over the past 11 years.

On Friday, March 20th, the Howard County Chapter launched its 25-26 season with an Open House Event. As the program enters its seventh year, the event set the tone for a successful and impactful season, bringing over 60 attendees, including both new and returning members. By 6 PM, students began trickling in. The event opened with videos featuring BranchOut! alumni now attending schools such as Yale, UPenn, Tufts, UMD, Brown, and CMU. Each student provided their own unique ba

At BranchOut!, we believe that exceptional leadership isn’t born overnight—it’s forged through challenge, collaboration, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. Recently, we concluded our intensive leadership interview process for the upcoming season. To say the caliber of talent was impressive would be an understatement. This year’s invited candidates hailed from 15 schools across 6 states (CA, IA, MA, NY, VA, MD), including both public and private schools.

On October 5th, the Kreeger Auditorium at Bender JCC of Greater Washington was filled with energy, inspiration, and gratitude as we celebrated a major milestone—our 10th anniversary. This special event brought together community members, students, mentors, and leaders to celebrate ten years of growth, leadership, and impactful service.