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Remembering Our Dear Friend Cal LaRoche

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Three Ron Brown Scholars Named Obama Voyager Scholarship Recipients

When leadership, vision, and service align, remarkable things happen. This year, three 2023 Ron Brown Scholars—Kishanti Barmoh, Faith Buggs, and Aisha Makama—were selected as recipients of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, a prestigious national award recognizing students committed to creating positive change.

The Voyager Scholarship, created by President Barack Obama, Mrs. Michelle Obama, and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, supports rising college juniors who demonstrate a dedication to public service and global engagement. Each recipient receives up to $50,000 in financial aid, a $10,000 travel stipend, and access to a community of leaders shaping the future through service.

For Kishanti, Faith, and Aisha, this honor represents more than recognition—it’s an opportunity to expand their impact, explore the world, and further the values at the heart of the Ron Brown Scholar Program: leadership, service, and excellence.

We look forward to seeing where their journeys take them next and how they continue to carry the Ron Brown legacy forward.

Learn more about the Voyager Scholarship here.

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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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