Hillpoint Elementary School fifth-grader Zachary Gist has a lot of good ideas about ways he can positively influence his peers.

He can “set a good example with (his) behavior” and “always be polite and respectful to (his) peers and adults,” Zachary wrote in an essay.

He can refrain from getting upset if his sporting team loses or from gloating if it wins. He can volunteer in the community or invent an indoor game his Boy Scout troop could play if it rains on a camping trip.

Zachary wrote the essay for the Virginia PTA’s 2015 Citizenship Essay contest. The piece was judged the best for his age group in the PTA district, which spans Suffolk, Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Sussex and Surry.

Eligible for the competition were 89 different schools, according to Andy Gist, Zachary’s father.

“We just found out about it a couple of weeks ago,” Andy Gist said. “As it turns out, he won for the school, then he won for all of Suffolk Public Schools … then he also won for the Southeastern (Virginia) PTA district.”

This year’s essay theme: I can positively influence my peers by … . There were four categories, and Zachary’s had a word limit of 250. High school students were given 750 words.

Zachary was Suffolk’s only district winner in the contest.

Andy Gist said they ran across the contest while researching scholarship opportunities for his eldest daughter, who’s off to college.

Zachary was encouraged to enter when they saw the category for his grade level, he said.

“We talked about it with him,” Andy Gist said. “I was impressed with the things he came up with on his own.”

The unique reference to his Boy Scout troop probably helped Zachary win, he said.

Andy Gist said his son is excited about the win. “He’s won some things (before) at the school level,” he said. “(But) this is his most significant accomplishment so far.”

The essay competition is held in conjunction with the PTA’s annual Reflections contest, honoring student talent in the arts.

Zachary was invited to read his essay to the audience at the Southeastern District PTA Annual Dinner, held last week at Suffolk’s Pioneer Elementary School.

“He practiced reading it with us at home,” Andy Gist said. “It’s the first time he has been on the stage to do something like that.”