WAUSA, Neb. — Nebraska high school students are learning the basics of broadcast news. Wausa High School has started a new class that’s gaining interest in the community.

There are only 250 students in all of the Wausa Public Schools system, but there were plenty of eager volunteers for the Viking News Network.

“Hey, these kids are so talented it doesn’t matter where they come from or who they are,” Viking News Network teacher Sheila Hoesing said. “They have so many skillsets that you wouldn’t even know. This is another way for people to see it.”

Teachers say the new class offers students a chance to learn digital media and broadcasting basics, but it also serves a greater purpose.

“It also helps them with people skills, helps them to learn how to write, how to speak, how to interact,” Hoesing said. “It’s also a way to give back to the community to spread news, and another way to just get what they want out there for other people to see and be proud of.”

Fellow VNN teacher Kyle Stevens said it’s something the entire community is looking forward to seeing more in the future.

“They crave it,” Stevens said. “They want it. They see the need as well as we do. I think this thing is going to grow into something that is going to really be something special for our school, something special for our students, and something special for our community.”