MEDIA ADVISORY SHINE Of Luzerne County Marks Opening of Kistler Elementary Center with National Lights On After School Event On Oct. 24

Wilkes-Barre, PA (10/22/2019) — SHINE of Luzerne County at Wilkes University will hold a National Lights On After School celebration and mark the opening of its new center at Kistler Elementary School with an Oct. 24 event. The celebration and ribbon cutting will be at 4 p.m. in the cafeteria of the school at 301 Old River Road in Wilkes-Barre. Media are invited to cover the event and should call 570-417-5023 when they arrive at the school to gain access to the building.

The Lights On Afterschool initiative celebrates the importance of afterschool programs like SHINE. In America today, 11.3 million children are alone and unsupervised after school. Programs like SHINE keep kids safe, help working families and inspire learning.

"As we celebrate afterschool programs throughout our nation on October 24, we recognize the efforts made by programs like SHINE to provide a safe and productive afterschool environment for all students," said Sen. John Yudichak. "As the ninth SHINE center in Luzerne County, the Kistler Elementary Center will add to the increasing success SHINE has had in improving classroom achievement and preparing children for a bright future."

In addition to Yudichak, other individuals participating in the ribbon cutting and delivering remarks include Carol Nicholas, director of SHINE, Wilkes University Interim President Paul Adams, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George and Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Brian Costello.

SHINE's after-school centers operate four days a week. Students in the program benefit from SHINE's project-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum to kindle excitement about learning.

SHINE of Luzerne County at Wilkes University serves students at nine after-school centers in the Hanover Area, Hazleton Area, Greater Nanticoke Area, Pittston Area, Wilkes-Barre Area and Wyoming Valley West school districts. SHINE, which stands for Schools and Homes In Education, was founded in fall 2015 in Luzerne County. State Sen. John Yudichak and former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta teamed to bring the program to the community. Wilkes University is SHINE's higher education partner and serves as home for the program.

For more information about the event, please contact Vicki Mayk, Wilkes University senior editor, at 570-466-5532.

About Wilkes University:

Wilkes University is a private, independent, non-sectarian institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences and professional programs. Founded in 1933, Wilkes is on a mission to create one of the nation's finest doctoral universities, offering all of the programs, activities and opportunities of a large university in the intimate, caring and mentoring environment of a small college, open to all who show promise. The Economist named Wilkes 25th in the nation for the value of its education for graduates. In addition to 46 majors, Wilkes offers 24 master's degree programs and five doctoral/terminal degree programs, including the doctor of philosophy in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education, doctor of pharmacy, and master of fine arts in creative writing. Learn more at www.wilkes.edu.

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