Manlius girl sets goal for overseas trip

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MANLIUS — A rural Manlius teenager is raising funds to travel to the United Kingdom next summer through the People to People program.

Laura Brummel called next summer’s trip a “an opportunity of a lifetime.” Her planned departure date is June 5, and she will be gone for 19 days, traveling to the United Kingdoms of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

During the trip, Brummel’s People to People delegation will meet with a member of the English parliament to discuss the differences between the United States and England governments and will also tour regular tourist attractions such as Big Ben. In Ireland, the group will participate in a three-day stay on an Irish farm. In Scotland, the young people will participate in the Highland games and learn traditional Scottish dances. In Wales, the group will see historic castles.

“Amidst all of our fun, we will also do some community service, such as visiting a Scottish nursing home,” Brummel said.

The People to People organization was founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in an effort to promote interaction between people around the world to develop cultural understanding and world peace.

To pay for the nearly $7,000 cost of the trip, Brummel has already held several fundraisers and has a pancake breakfast set for 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the St. Patrick’s parish hall in Sheffield.

Brummel, who attends Bureau Valley High School, said she is paying for the trip herself through fundraisers, her tutoring money and donations.

In addition to regular traveling preparation, People to People requires their student ambassadors to attend four informational meetings to learn about the countries which they will visit and to meet the other members of their delegations, Brummel said. These meetings also include homework for the young people.

“I am excited for this trip. Someone told me that in America we have had too much for too long. We don’t realize how good we have it,” Brummel said. “I hope that this trip gives me a better appreciation of the blessings we have in this country and greater understanding of cultures that are not like ours. Hopefully this trip is just the beginning of my world travel and global understanding.”

Brummel is the daughter of Ken and Kay Brummel of rural Manlius.

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