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Remembering Our Dear Friend Cal LaRoche

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Olivia Sally Awarded 2024 Marshall Scholarship

We are happy to share that one of our own, Olivia Sally, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Marshall Scholarship. Olivia’s remarkable achievement is a testament to her dedication, intellect and commitment to positively impacting the world.

About The Marshall Scholarship

The Marshall Scholarship is a highly competitive and prestigious scholarship program established in 1953 as a living memorial to former U.S. Secretary of State General George C. Marshall. It allows talented young Americans to pursue up to three years of graduate study in any academic field at a university in the United Kingdom. The program is a celebration of academic excellence and leadership potential.

Olivia Sally: A Captain and a Leader

Olivia Sally, an alumna of Yale University, hails from Oakland, California. She joined the Ron Brown – Ruth and Norman Rales Leaders Network as a Captain in 2019, receiving personal and professional development services alongside other Scholars and Captains.

Olivia’s academic pursuits align perfectly with her dedication to making a positive impact. She will pursue a graduate degree in child development and education at the prestigious University of Oxford. This choice reflects Olivia’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of children and promoting excellence in education.

Congratulations, Olivia!

We are immensely proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing the incredible contributions you will make to the world in the coming years.

Support Future Leaders

Olivia’s success highlights the importance of nurturing young leaders. If you would like to support the next generation of talented individuals like Olivia, consider donating to help us continue our mission of empowering future leaders.

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In Memoriam:
Cal LaRoche (1946–2025)

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Cal LaRoche, a brilliant and dedicated advisor and champion of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, who left us on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025.

Born in New York in January 1946, Cal graduated from Central State University in Ohio, where he joined the Eta Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. His career spanned decades of leadership and innovation, beginning at the National Security Agency and continuing through key roles at IBM, SkyTel Communications, and The Orkand Corporation. 

A visionary entrepreneur, Cal later co-founded DC Ventures and Associates.

His commitment to service was unwavering. Cal chaired the Boards of Trustees at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and Norwood School and served with distinction for 15 years on the Advisory Board of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. His leadership extended to the Beta Mu, Boulé Foundation Board, where he served as Chair, and to Patients For Affordable Drugs, where he was a founding board member and Treasurer.

An avid golfer and advocate for equity in the sport, Cal co-founded the Pro-Duffer/Carter Foundation Scholarship to promote diversity in golf. A long-time member of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, he was as passionate about creating opportunity as he was about the game itself.

Cal’s legacy is carried on by his beloved family: his mother, Lucille “Gloria” David; his wife, Esperanza, and their sons, CJ and Ethan; his former wife, Cheryl LaRoche; their daughters, Gina LaRoche, Renee LaRoche-Morris, and Danielle LaRoche; six grandchildren; and his siblings. His wisdom, warmth, and unwavering belief in the potential of young people will remain an enduring part of the Ron Brown Scholar community.

We are forever grateful for Cal’s enduring support, leadership, and love. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence, generosity, and deep humanity. He will be deeply missed.
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