Carbon and Schuylkill counties sure have a lot of "stars."

During the annual Lights On event, celebrated nationally for the past 15 years, Carbon and Schuylkill SHINE Afterschool students from Mahanoy and Shenandoah elementary schools and the Carbon County Career Academy showed off the skills they learned over the past few years. The theme of the evening was "10 years and still 'SHINE'ing," because this year also marked the 10th anniversary of the program.The program, held at Jim Thorpe Area High School, opened with Mia Zamudio, Paloma Monjaraz and Jeremiah Paulion, Shenandoah SHINE students, reading "What Do You Do with An Idea?" followed by the Career Academy students entering holding signs to encourage you to "do something."Jim Thorpe Area School District superintendent Brian Gasper welcomed everyone to the event and introduced the master of ceremonies, former Jim Thorpe Superintendent Dr. Barbara Conway.Conway thanked the students for their dedication to the program and introduced guest speakers Dr. Ann Bieber, president of Lehigh Carbon Community College; Commissioner Wayne Nothstein; Mary Edith Rhoades, wife of the late state Sen. James Rhoades, who was one of the catalysts for the program; and Clyde "Champ" Holman, Rhoades' former chief of staff."Today we celebrate 10 years of these young people and their accomplishments," Bieber said, adding that quality afterschool education helps shape the students' lives."Success breeds success," Nothstein said, noting that SHINE has helped on the county level as well, keeping children out of various systems such as Children and Youth and juvenile courts.Mary Edith spoke about her husband and his love for the program until his dying day."I remember my husband coming home and saying this program is 'my baby,'" she said. "I refer to the two of them (her husband and SHINE director Jeanne Miller) as the parents of this program. Look how this baby grew. Now it's a family."Mary Edith then addressed state Sen. John Yudichak, who succeeded Rhoades following his passing."When I heard Sen. Yudichak was trying to keep this afloat, I thought, I think we have a guardian angel up there who handpicked him out," she said. "I want to thank you. This family will keep growing when you have people like you who believe in children and their families."Holman spoke about the late senator's beliefs as well.He said Rhoades believed everyone should have "clothes on their backs, food on their tables and a little money to spend to enjoy life."Following the speakers, Caroline Allen, coordinator of the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Network, presented Yudichak and Sen. David Argall with Afterschool Champion awards for their dedication to the SHINE program over the years.Yudichak said he honored and then thanked everyone for allowing him to become part of the SHINE family."Rhoades and Miller were the parents of SHINE and we're all children of that great legacy," he said.David Reinbold, executive director of Carbon Career and Technical Institute, and Rachel Strucko, Career Academy coordinator, with the help of four CCTI students then presented Family Promise of Carbon County with two gifts: a GMC Safari van that SHINE and CCTI students used to learn basic automotive repair, and a dollhouse that was built by Lehighton SHINE students.Cheryl O'Rourke and her son Ryan also spoke about their success stories with the program. Cheryl served her internship as a SHINE teacher while at LCCC and her son participated in the SHINE program and is now excelling in high school.The night ended with a presentation to Miller for her dedication to SHINE and with the children asking for everyone to help keep the lights shining for many years to come.The LCCC Carbon and Schuylkill SHINE 21st Century Afterschool Program began in 2004 through the efforts of child and family collaborative. SHINE now has seven centers in the two counties; encompasses seven public schools, one technical school, four parochial schools and covers over 700 square miles; and has served over 2,600 students over the past decade.Through the multiple programs under the SHINE umbrella, the program serves children from kindergarten through college and provides a "seamless network for children and families."The programs focus on careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.In recent years, the SHINE model has grown into a nationally known program, being recognized in numerous publications and has been one of the few afterschool programs highlighted as a model that works.