Age: 16
Sponsor: Cleveland, OH Chapter - American Association of Zookeepers
School: Nordonia High School
City: Macedonia, Ohio
Biography:

Hi, my name is Courtney Freyhauf. I live in Macedonia, Ohio, with my three younger sisters (Miranda, Payton, and Sydney), my mom (Michele), my dad (Brian), and our dog (Einstein), bird (Chase), leopard gecko (Lui) and guinea pigs (Serena and Mocha). I am a junior at Nordonia High School in the Honors Program and am involved with Mock Trials, Drama Club, the Student Council, and Leadership. Through the Student Council, I have attended two leadership camps with the OASC in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. With my church, through its youth program, I have attended two leadership camps that took me to Tiger, Georgia (Covecrest) and South Bend, Indiana (Notre Dame).

For the past three years, I have been a volunteer at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as a member of their Zoo Crew (in the year-round program) and I really love what I do. I am a second year animal handler and get to do chrysalis pinning. Most important, I get to work with public to educate them about conservation and the animals I have been trained to handle. This year, I was able to shadow the polar bear zoo keeper and learned so much!

I am so excited for this fall but starting up school again is not the real reason why .… Last spring, I spent all day anticipating a call from my mom. I knew that that day they were announcing the teen Arctic Ambassador for PBI chosen from the zoo. I was standing around with my friends when I got the call. My mom spoke slowly, her voice filled with sorrow: “I’m so sorry...” she said.

I was disappointed and my friends all hugged me--until my mom screamed into the phone: YOU’RE GOING TO CHURCHILL!!!!

This is a real dream come true, not just for the opportunity it presents to observe such a magnificent animal, but because I have the opportunity to learn about more ways I can give back and make a real difference while I am on this earth.. I am also excited because growing up, my favorite movie was Balto and that movie inspired my love for polar bears and wolves. I would always read books with my mom about the aurora lights, Iditarods, and the wilderness – like that of Churchill – and dream about having the opportunity to go there one day. It became a goal that my mom and I would travel there when I graduate from high school! I even adopted a wolf (named Ayat) through the World Wildlife Federation’s Program. I have been given a great opportunity for which I am so grateful for. I plan to use my education and experience to the fullest to help my school, my community and much, much more!!