Nori Carter of St. Anne’s-Belfield School
Driven by the belief that love is best expressed through tangible action, Nori has dedicated her high school career to community building and advocacy. At St. Anne’s, she founded the "Split’s Club," creating a vital support system for students navigating the complexities of parental divorce, separation, incarceration, or loss. A proficient Spanish speaker, she authored the children’s book Amigos del Océano, which she presented to the Discovery Children’s Museum to promote literacy and environmental awareness. When she identified a gap in accessibility for milestone celebrations, she collaborated with Mayor Juandiego Wade’s office to provide free senior portrait sessions to dozens of local students. Nori has engaged in extensive work in public policy. She co-founded a local chapter of the Virginia Young Democrats, volunteered for the Spanberger campaign, and organized fundraising efforts to support the unhoused community. Nori plans to study public policy in college, aiming to ensure that every individual—regardless of background or language—has a permanent seat at the table.
Olga Salama of Charlottesville High School
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.