As children, parents, and grandparents get together over the holidays, and as students set new goals in the New Year, it's the perfect time to learn from the life stories of older adults.

Students can learn about their family, themselves, and even history when they interview a grandparent or grandfriend. And they can win a Lenovo ThinkCentre computer and $25,000 of EdOptions' educational software when they enter the Legacy Project's 12th annual Listen to a Life Essay Contest. The national contest runs in partnership with Generations United in Washington, DC.

In addition to connecting generations, the contest helps students develop interviewing, listening, writing, and technology skills. Many students are surprised by what they learn, and teachers consistently report students are inspired to do some of their best writing.

To enter the Listen to a Life Contest, students 8 to 18 years old interview a grandparent or grandfriend 50 years or older about the older person's hopes and goals through their life, how they achieved their goals and overcame obstacles, or key life experiences. The student then writes a 300-word essay based on the interview.

The Grand Prize is a Lenovo ThinkCentre computer for the student and the winner's school also receives $25,000 of EdOptions' products. Twenty runner-up prizes include an MP3 player from EdOptions and $400 of EdOptions' products.

This year's Listen to a Life Contest runs to March 30, 2012.

For complete contest details, interview tips, and sample questions, visit www.legacyproject.org.

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