August 1, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 Upper Saddle River Future veterinarian and Upper Saddle River resident Courtney Cross recently earned her Girl Scout Gold Award with a project focusing on proper care for animals. Cross is a member of Girl Scout Troop 945 and will be a senior at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale this September. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn and requires the completion of a leadership project of at least Courtney Cross 80 hours. Each prospective Gold Award recipient must discover an issue in the community, connect with experts and community members, and take action to effect positive change. Cross educated the community about animal abuse and animal rights. Animal care project garners gold for future vet “I love animals and believe they should be treated with care and respect, just like humans,” Cross explained. “I hoped that with my project, I would be able to educate people about proper care for animals and thereby save innocent animals’ lives.” Cross held 10 educational presentations for community groups and youth organizations, including other Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops. She created informational handouts and brochures and collected more than $600 in pet supply donations for Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc., the nokill shelter located in Oakland. “Courtney’s work toward raising awareness about animal abuse and animal overpopulation is vital not only to the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, but for the overall cause of animal welfare in general,” said Stew Cutler, volunteer coordinator at RBARI. “Knowing there is a next generation of young people that have the commitment and passion to provide humane education is a comfort to all of us in the field and hope for the millions of animals in need.” Cross believes knowledge is the key to solving the problem of animal abuse. “People can be educated and motivated to help a ben- eficial cause when given accurate information,” she said. “One person can indeed make a difference.” At school, Cross is a member of the National Honor Society, the Harry Potter Club, concert choir, and junior class student council. She is also the student director of the school musical. Cross, who has been a Girl Scout for 12 years, said working with her troop has prepared her for the future, given her leadership skills, and opened her mind to the world around her. She plans to become a veterinarian and continue to work for the welfare of animals. Within Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, 12 percent of eligible girls earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, compared to the national average of six percent. Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development program for girls. In Girl Scouts, girls discover themselves, connect with others, and take action to create positive change in their own communities. For more information about Girl Scouts, call (973) 248-8200.