If local media can give space and time to applauding local teenage athletes, why not do the same for standout students in other disciplines?

That's the idea behind a "Spotlight on the Arts" campaign, in which KSTC, Ch. 45, will dedicate time every Thursday on both their 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. broadcast to highlighting students who excel in one-act play festivals, music contests, visual arts festivals and speech tournaments.

The initiative, backed by the Minnesota State High School League and Wells Fargo, will also follow the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council, a group of 12 high-school students who work with the Walker to produce programming that teenagers might be interested in.

Great idea -- and one that will hopefully inspire the rest of the Twin Cities media to think about saluting great students who can do something other than dunk a basketball.