Ben Goetz, an eighth grader at Page Middle School, was named the winner of the Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association Middle School Writing Contest.

Goetz took home the top prize of $500, along with other gifts, during TOGA’s annual meeting, which was held on Saturday afternoon in Watermen’s Hall on the campus of the Virginia Marine Institute of Science, Gloucester Point.

Hannah Davis, a sixth grader at Thomas Hunter Middle School in Mathews, took second place in the essay contest, winning $250, while two Tabb Middle School students, eighth grader Finley Payne and seventh grader Lucie Cox, tied for third place, each receiving $100.

In addition to the cash prizes, each of the students received a TOGA T-shirt, a cap or visor, and an oyster tumbler floating cage so they can grow their own oysters. As the school of the winning essayist, Page will receive $200 to spend on educational aids.

The theme of this year’s essay contest was “Consider the Oyster” and was open to all Virginia stud...