The BranchOut! Blog

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.

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.

This year, BranchOut! hosted both STEM Day, run by the Community Workshops team, and our annual end-of-year picnic on Saturday, August 9, 2025. STEM Day ran inside Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, while the picnic took place at the Tysons Pimmit Park right behind the library. STEM Day was a huge success, with over 30 elementary and middle school students stopping by to participate in our activities. Throughout the event, attendees participated in a variety of hands-on activiti

A decade ago, BranchOut! began with a mission to empower youth through education, mentorship, and community engagement. Today, we are proud to celebrate 10 incredible years of impact, growth, and success stories! 📽️ Watch our special 10th Anniversary Celebration video to relive the moments that shaped our journey! 🌱 Our Impact Over the Years: ✅ Thousands of students mentored & empowered ✅ Community partnerships that foster inclusivity ✅ Recognitions & awards for outstanding