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.

Most teenagers start making financial decisions long before landing their first full-time job. Whether deciding what to spend on, figuring out how to save, or wondering what investing even means, students constantly navigate money without always having the tools to feel confident. BranchOut!’s Financial Literacy for Teens Symposium was created to change that. Bringing together attendees across six states, the event brought financial and career professionals together with hig

If you walked onto the playground at the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club in Newton, MA, this past week, you would have seen it: a swarm of middle schoolers cheering, a flurry of straws, tape, and tarps, and raw eggs plummeting from 12 feet in the air. Week 4 of BranchOut!’s Boston summer STEM program was dedicated to Gravity and Engineering, challenging the students to build protective landers to keep their eggs intact. Moving the session outdoors brought a completely new

When Abby Wei, a rising 12th grader at Tabor Academy, stepped into her role as a BranchOut! team leader at the Boys & Girls Club this summer, she brought energy, speed, and a strong drive to succeed. Like many high-achieving student leaders, Abby initially thought leadership meant having all the answers and carrying the weight of the project on her own shoulders. Beyond her work with BranchOut!, Abby harbors a deep passion for marine science and ocean engineering. At Tabor Ac

When attendees log into a BranchOut! Community Workshop, they see a polished, engaging event: esteemed expert panelists, confident student emcees, and seamless, thoughtful conversations. What they don’t see is the weeks of intense preparation, persistent outreach, and quiet problem-solving happening behind the scenes. Every smooth, 60-minute panel discussion is actually the iceberg peak of hundreds of hours of student teamwork.