BEATRICE, NE — Students at Stoddard Elementary School in Beatrice are coming home with something extra this week.

Every student at the school received a free bike helmet on Thursday through the UnitedHealthcare/News Channel Nebraska Small Towns Matter Helmet Giveaway Program. Combine that with a school assembly broadcast live on NCN TV and that was plenty to get students pumped up.

People could nominate any school across the state to receive the helmets. Sharon Karas nominated Stoddard because her grandson goes there, and it was randomly selected out of 900 entries.

“On behalf of all of us, thank you for caring enough to nominate Stoddard," Flood Communications CEO Andy Ruback said. "We are here because you took the time to do it.”

The annual giveaway is sponsored by UnitedHealthcare. Executive Director Matthew Milam says it’s part of the company’s effort to promote health and wellness.

“(The giveaway is) a more tangible way to show the children and the students that we’re interested in them staying healthy and protecting themselves,” Milam said.

CEO Andy Ruback says the program fits with News Channel Nebraska’s mission to serve rural areas.

“What’s important to News Channel Nebraska is that we continue to provide resources and experiences and programs like this to small towns all over Nebraska,” Ruback said.

Along with the 215 helmets, Stoddard Elementary also received a $2500 check. The whole package was enough to make Principal Kevin Janssen yell out loud in his office.

“My secretary came running in thinking something was wrong and I said, ‘you’re never going to believe what just happened. We just won helmets for everybody and $2500.’ And she said, ‘How’d we do that?’ I said, ‘I’m not sure but I’m very thankful we did,’” Janssen said.

Janssen and others stressed the importance of protecting your brain when talking at the assembly.

The students left with a helmet in hand and the adults left with a smile.

“It’s a lot of fun," Milam said. "Again, we really enjoy engaging in the community and especially with the students because they’re grateful.”