When it comes to the SHINE Afterschool program, Jim Thorpe Area School District Superintendent Brian Gasper says 1+1=3.

While the answer is not correct mathematically, Gasper explains that the equation is a true example of synergy, which is the cooperation of two or more organizations producing a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.“That’s exactly what we have here,” he said on Thursday evening during the annual Lights-On celebration at Jim Thorpe Area High School. “It doesn’t make sense mathematically, but when you are adding the two programs (the school districts and the SHINE program) together, you are actually producing a better result than what we would get individually.”Over 425 elementary, middle and high school students from nine SHINE centers throughout Carbon and Schuylkill counties who were part of the program would have to agree.They illustrated synergy over and over again as they performed skits, showed off their drone flying skills, shared their future dreams and rocked out to Cyndi Lauper, Queen and Bob Seger.The event is held annually as part of the national Lights-On movement.Rachel Strucko, director of the SHINE program, beamed as she spoke about the difference SHINE has made in thousands of children’s lives over the past 12 years.“Lights-On shows what we do in the centers with our students and the commitment that the districts have in educating the kids of Carbon and Schuylkill counties,” Strucko said.The program also welcomed James J. Rhoades Jr. and his mother, Mary Edith, the family of the late Sen. James Rhoades, who was a driving force for the creation of SHINE.James Jr.’s brother, Michael, the head basketball coach at Rice University, was supposed to join the party via Skype to address the audience, but the connection was unable to be made at the time. Being a team player, James stepped up to the challenge.He commended the program for growing into what it is today, noting that SHINE was one of his father’s greatest achievements.He urged the students to get a good education and try hard in life.The SHINE Afterschool program is an initiative through Lehigh Carbon Community College that helps school students in Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, Palmerton, Weatherly, Panther Valley, Mahanoy City and Shenandoah in their studies.It also helps them build socialization skills and a stronger relationship in the family.Since its inception in 2004, the SHINE program has served thousands of area students and has taken them to higher levels in education.The Carbon County SHINE Career Academy began in 2011 through a partnership between Lehigh Carbon Community College and CCTI as a way to bridge the gap in the LCCC SHINE Afterschool Program model.It allows Carbon County students in grades six, seven and eight to look into jobs of the future through hands-on projects while building on their current academic skills.The SHINE model has been replicated in neighboring Luzerne County and has received national recognition as an afterschool program that works.