Olga Salama of Charlottesville High School

Olga is the daughter of Augustin Magma and Claudine Salama

Olga is a force of nature who brings her exuberant joy and optimism to everyone around her.  She was born in Congo and attended school in a refugee camp in Burundi.  When she arrived in the U.S. with her parents and 7 siblings in 2021, she spoke Swahili and French--but no English. Now she speaks 5 languages. Teachers say they’ve never had a student who learned English so fast. Olga has a servant’s heart and throws herself into helping her younger siblings, friends, and many others. She’s in the National Honor Society, mentors students who are learning English, leads the Sunday school at her church, and volunteered with the homeless and the International Rescue Committee.  Olga grew up in Burundi where people die from lacking access to healthcare, either because there are no doctors or because it costs too much to receive treatment.  As a first-generation college student, she plans to pursue medicine and work in healthcare on the global stage.