A Nansemond River High School senior recently received Girl Scouting’s highest honor for establishing a butterfly garden at an elementary school.

Megan Coston, who is with Girl Scout Troop 5292 at Beech Grove Methodist Church, achieved the Gold Award for designing and building a butterfly garden at Driver Elementary School.

“It feels really good to accomplish it and help the community,” she said.

Between April and September, Coston spent more than 60 hours completing the project, but the entire project from inception to completion took about a year.

She coordinated and received donations of plants and mulch from local businesses, and she took advantage of unused space to make a garden that could serve as a learning tool and pleasant environment for the whole school population.

“I felt like it was a good thing for the students to give them a source of hands-on learning,” Coston said.

She hopes the garden also can be a place for classes to be held outside when the weather permits.

In addition to creating the garden, Coston also established a garden club at Driver for students to learn more about butterflies and plants.

State Del. Chris Jones presented Coston with her Gold Award at the Dec. 5 troop meeting.

Jones, who has known Coston and her family since she was in elementary school, said he was proud of her achievement.

“I’m amazed at what you have done in a short period of time,” he told her. “I know this is just the beginning for you.”

Coston joined the Girl Scouts as a Brownie in 2002. As a Junior Girl Scout, she earned the Bronze Award, and then as a Cadette, she received the Silver Award.

After high school, she plans to attend college and pursue a career in culinary arts or business.