Sterling (Kan.) may be far from the big city. But an innovative team at Sterling High School has brought the world to Kansas via Skype.

Recently, U.S. history teacher Brian Richter decided to see if he could get World war II hero and former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole to speak to his class.

Dole's "people" suggested a teleconference.

But Brian noted: "We don't even have phones in the classroom. But we do have the internet."

Brian enlisted the help of Dean Mantz, the school's network coordinator.

Dean contacted Sen. Dole's office in Washington. He won the Dole people over to try Skype as a less expensive and practical alternative to the reach the classroom.

Dole made his first Skype call ever on April 29.

Brian said the aura of technology lent by Skype probably made the call even more exciting for his kids, who were in fourth grade when Dole ran unsuccessfully for president against Bill Clinton.

Dean said Dole seemed to enjoy the experience, making his usual humorous comments, such as wondering aloud if a reporter who was moving around the classroom actually was looking for an exit.

He said he has used Skype for other educational programs, such as to link with a classroom in Australia and to bring in educators from the Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center, a major space museum in Hutchinson, Kan.

Next, Brian and Dean are planning a student Senate with another school--all on Skype.