The Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association Middle School Essay Contest is underway with a Dec. 15 deadline for submissions. Students are encouraged to show off their writing skills and win substantial prizes, a release said.

After sponsoring Middle School Writing Contests for the past 10 years, TOGA is offering prizes of $500, $250 and $100 for first, second and third places, respectively, for the top essays. A prize of $200 will also be awarded to the school of the top entry. The theme of the essays is “Consider the Oyster,” a category that must include an essay that has anything to do with oysters.

The competition is open to all Virginia students, public, private, and homeschooled, in grades 6, 7 and 8.

Winners will be announced at the TOGA Membership Party on March 16, 2024 at the Freeshade Community Center in Middlesex County.

The three top winners’ essays will be published on the TOGA website, and may be published in other publications or websites.

The essays shoul...