Friday afternoon, Marsha completed the requirements for the Girl Scout Gold Award.

“It’s like an Eagle award in Boy Scouts,” Marsha said. “It’s the highest award you can get in Girl Scouts.”

For her final step on the path to the gold, Marsha, who is the daughter of Alvin and Paula Cox, delivered baskets, bags and Christmas stockings to a representative of the Alliance Against Family Violence.

To achieve this goal, she raised money by holding a bake sale with her troop leader, Donna Higbee, earning about $160.

She used the money to purchase items such as laundry soap, toothpaste and shampoo. And then she sewed five cloth bags to put them in. She also compiled five baskets and filled them with cleaning supplies.

In addition, Marsha sewed 24 Christmas stockings and filled them with toys, candy canes and stuffed animals.

The gold award requires that girls put in 50 hours of work. Marsha topped out at 53 hours.

It was worth it, she said.

“I feel like I have helped somebody in need and it makes me feel good that I’ve gotten through it,” Marsha said.

Higbee, who has been Marsha’s troop leader for 10 years, praised her work.

“I think she does really, really well,” Higbee said. “It takes a lot to do this and it’s something that she really likes. She’s really stuck with it. She’s a girl that if you ask her to do something, or if she volunteers to do something, you know she’ll get it done. She follows through real well.”

Higbee said before girls actually begin their gold project, they work for about a year on prerequisites.

“Not many girls get the award,” she said. “The last time somebody from Tonganoxie got it, it was Katie Ussery.”

Ussery, who is now 23, is the daughter of Charlie and Sheri Ussery.

Higbee said two other girls in her troop are close to completing requirements for the Gold Award — her daughter, Elizabeth Higbee, and Paige Robinson.

Marsha will officially receive her new ranking in February when she is honored at a council awards ceremony in Independence, Mo.