Taking a gap year between high school and college is becoming more popular. And thanks to the Global Gap Year Fellowship from the Campus Y, two Orange County students are joining the trend.

Sophie Nachman and Thilini Weerakkody are part of the six-student cohort for the upcoming gap year program. They have been awarded $7,500 to use toward travel, living expenses and other costs during their year of service work with the program.

Nachman is graduating from Woods Charter School and plays the violin in the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has used her passion for music to organize community fundraising concerts and support different advocacy groups.

Weerakkody is graduating from Chapel Hill High School and is a member of the Model United Nations, president of the Stop Hunger Now club and a member of the Science Olympiad. She said she is passionate about advocating for others and helping them to find their place in the world.

The Global Gap Year Fellowship was launched in 2011 and is made possible by an anonymous $1.5 million gift to the Campus Y. The program selects a diverse group of North Carolina students based on merit and community involvement to defer enrollment for one year. During this gap year they work to enhance their leadership skills, learn about different world cultures and serve communities around the globe.

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