(Submitted by Brooke Stansbury)
This summer, students at Corbin School of Innovation (SOI) dove into more than just robotics…they explored problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and real-world impact at SOI’s First Lego League (FLL) Team Summer Camp. Campers spent the week building robots, writing code, and refining their innovation project: a tool designed to help divers navigate through silt-filled waters during cave and deep-water dives.
The project took on deeper meaning when former SOI student and 22-year-old entrepreneur Graham Barrineau visited the team. A Corbin native and co-founder of Diving for Hope, an underwater search and recovery service started in 2017, Barrineau shared how his experiences as a firefighter, EMT, and recreational diver sparked a passion for helping families find peace after loss.
“It was very heartwarming to see their interest,” Barrineau said. “I was lucky to get involved when I was young, so it’s good to see young people interested. If you have an idea, and you think you can do it, it doesn’t matter what anyone else says…just keep going.”
Coach Rachel Johnson said seeing a former student return to support young innovators was powerful.
“He’s someone who really wants to help this project come to fruition. This product could save lives, and this experience could change the course of these students’ lives, too,” she said.
Campers were equally inspired. “It was very interesting to meet another person from our school who turned into an entrepreneur,” said Zachary, 10. Scarlett, 12, called Graham’s story “inspirational.”
The camp is rooted in SOI’s Corbin Contributor learner profile, which emphasizes curiosity, creativity, and community impact. Johnson hopes the students’ work moves beyond the prototype. “I want people to be inspired not just by the product, but by what these kids are capable of.”
You can meet SOI’s FLL team and other young entrepreneurs at the 2025 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission, Aug. 26-29 at the Corbin Arena.
To learn more about Corbin School of Innovation, visit corbininnovate.org.
