TOGA Youth Writing
Contest: "Consider the Oyster"
For Virginia Middle School Students (Grades 6-8)
Virginia High School Students,
submit today and win cash and prizes!
Virginia High School Student Writers Encouraged to Enter Statewide
Youth Writing Contest
The Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association (TOGA) is hosting our second popular High School Essay Contest. After sponsoring a successful Middle School Writing Contests for 11 years, TOGA changed the contest to offer it to high school students. The change was made because many high school students are anxious to earn money to help continue their education. Prizes will be $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 wide open category that must include an essay that has something to do with oysters.
The competition is open to all Virginia high school students, including home-schooled students. Winners will be announced at the TOGA Membership Party near St. Patrick’s Day, March 2027, at Camp Kekoka, Kilmarnock. The three top winning essays will be published on the TOGA web site and may be published in other publications or web sites.
The essays should be written in Microsoft Word format and attached to an e-mail. The submissions can be made by December 15, 2026. For more information, to view the entry form, and to see last year's winners and their essays, go to www.oystergardener.org, and enter High School Writing Contest in the Search tool.
“This contest has grown in popularity since itbegan more than ten years ago,” said Terry Lewis, TOGA contest chair. “We encourage students to be creative, use their talents and imagination, and submit some fine essays. The students in this area have submitted more winning essays than any other area in Virginia, though we have had winners from as far away as Fairfax County and Richmond. This contest offers High School students a chance to win substantial prize money and help build a resume for their future endeavors. We look forward to more creative and excellent writing. So, if you are a High School student or know of an aspiring writer in high school, we strongly encourage you to consider entering this contest.” Download a copy of the rules:
General Competition Guidelines
Tidewater Oyster Gardeners High School Writing Contest
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1. Open to all Virginia High School students, including homeschooled students.
2. The theme of the competition is “Consider the Oyster.” Writers will create their own title for the article--other than using the words of the theme listed above. Student’s name, grade/school, and home town must be printed in three lines at the top right hand corner on each page of the entry.
3. Length: a firm 500-750 words, which must be typed, double-spaced.
4. Electronic submissions are encouraged; send as a Microsoft Word or plain text attachment to the competition coordinator listed below.
5. Complete this submission form, and submit your essay (email below) before the deadline Dec 15th.
6. By submitting the article to the competition, permission is granted by the parent(s) and student for TOGA to post or publish the article in publications or web sites as deemed appropriate by the TOGA Competition Judges, with compensation being limited to writer credit to the student author in order to reward and recognize writing excellence, and to promote the competition throughout the year.
7. Submissions not meeting the competition guidelines and criteria will be disqualified.
8. Submission deadline: December 15.
9. Submit the submission form and email your essay (preferred) to: lewistmn@msn.com
Subject: High School Writing Competition Submission
Tidewater Oyster Gardeners High School Writing Contest
If you havequestions, please call 804-693-2687.
Good Luck!
Optionally you can send article as specified via postal mail to:
Terry Lewis
High School Writing Competition
11339 Water View Place
Gloucester, VA 23061