Senior Mandy Buell wanted to do more than make her mark on the lacrosse field at Gettysburg College so she teamed up with the Center for Public Service and Project Gettysburg-León to make life more enjoyable for a small community in Nicaragua.
 
Like many of us, Buell spent her childhood running around the playgrounds in nearby Westminster, Md., cruising down slides and swinging her feet high into the air on the swings. That active lifestyle turned the Gettysburg senior into one of the top players on one of the top Division III lacrosse programs in the nation.
 
But what if Buell hadn't been able to train her physical skills on those playgrounds in her youth? That was a question she asked herself as she began her final year in college.
 
"I decided I wanted to give back to Gettysburg before I left," said the mathematics major. "Being an athlete, I wanted to give kids something that could contribute to physical activity, something that they could use to release their energy."
 
A playground was the answer and Buell went to work finding out how she could initiate a project to build a playground. Her first thought was to find a spot in the local community, but a conversation with Gretchen Natter, Executive Director of Center for Public Service, helped turn Buell's eye to another location.
 
Since 1986, Project Gettysburg-León has maintained a cultural bond between sister cities Gettysburg and León, Nicaragua. PGL supports sustainable development projects in León and promotes friendship, education and cultural exchange between the two communities.
 
Monte Horeb, a small community on the outskirts of León had a building that doubled as both a pre-school and healthcare center. A small plot of land outside the structure was reserved for a playground. Monte Horeb had a need, and Buell was there to help fill it.
 
In a very short period of time, Buell gathered her teammates and organized a 5K race called the First Annual Race for Kids in early November. Nearly 60 competitors took part and helped the event exceed its goal by raising $1,200 for the playground.
 

"I had no idea what we were going to get because this was the first 5K I ever organized," recalled the Winters Mill High School grad. "I had no idea what the playground was going to look like either. Seeing what they were able to get with what we raised, it looked like it was well worth it."
 
Earlier this spring, the playground was installed, including a slide, two sets of swings, and a see-saw in vibrant hues of red, yellow and blue. Groups of children were all smiles as they tried out the new equipment for the first time.
 
"It honestly made me smile," said Buell. "It took me back to when I was a little kid playing on a playground. It's such a minor thing but it brings so much joy to these little kids."
 
Both Buell and Natter hope the new playground will help serve a key role as the Monte Horeb community continues to build and expand. The pre-school and healthcare center has the potential to serve as a key focal point for the community, made all the more valuable as a place for children to come and play.
 
Project Gettysburg-León will continue to march on, striving to strengthen the cultural bond through projects concentrating on the arts, education, and agriculture.
 
Buell's time at Gettysburg is nearing its end. In the coming weeks, she'll lead her teammates in defense of their Centennial Conference title, hopefully earn a bid to the national tournament, and receive her college degree. After Gettysburg, Buell will attend Mount St. Mary's University to get her MBA and she can leave campus knowing she made the future just a bit brighter for the children of Monte Horeb.