Read their words below that include advice for our current students who are charting their future!

Thank you both for serving as great role models and making Corinth proud!

Nicholas and Alex are the sons of our own Mrs. Penny Skinner, grade 6 teacher, and Mr. Kevin Skinner.

After high school, I Enlisted in the Navy in 2010 and began my journey in Groton, CT at Submarine School and SONAR Technician “A” School. Upon graduation I received orders to the USS LOUISVILLE (SSN-724), a Fast Attack submarine based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. My tour on the LOUISVILLE lasted 6 years, during which time I completed 3 Western Pacific (WESTPAC) Deployments. Serving aboard a Submarine is an incredibly challenging and rewarding adventure.

My job during this timeframe was SONAR Technician Submarines (STS) which means I used the most advanced sensors and technologies in the world to listen to underwater acoustic sources. These sources could be anything from biologics such as whales or shrimp, to very large merchant ships and fishing vessels. One of the coolest things about this job is learning and understanding the physics and principles of underwater sound like refraction and principles like Snell’s Law! Using all these skills we are able to safely navigate deep in the ocean without visual aids (no windows on submarines!) and complete incredibly challenging missions vital to national security.

After my first tour, I began working in Washington D.C. at the Office of Naval Intelligence and started training to become an Acoustic Intelligence Specialist (ACINT Specialist). This program was started during the Cold War to combat the Soviet Union and since then has evolved to combat threats globally.

This was a 2 ½ year training pipeline during which time I studied extensively into enemy threat acoustics, warfare tactics, and capabilities. I qualified on August 21, 2021, as the 225th Submariner to complete this program.

So now I get to travel all over the world and deploy on Submarines, serving as the principal advisor to Commanding Officers on all matters concerning Anti-Submarine Warfare. This job has taken me to some cool countries - I would say the most interesting being Duqm, Oman and Tromso, Norway. It’s the coolest job in the world and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else!

Two things that I have implemented into my life and career, which have helped me to grow tremendously are:

1.) Leading with an Outward Mindset. This is recognizing the goals of the group or individual and figuring out how you can assist them in reaching those goals. The principle can be applied to almost anything.

2.) LEADERS ARE READERS! Find a little time throughout the day to read a book. There are so many books out there written about things that can benefit both personally and professionally.

Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy and it certainly would not have been possible without the foundation or “roots” built by my hometown. The people in this town supported me my entire childhood and continue to support me to this day! I can’t thank them enough. The community aspect of Corinth, NY is very special and, I can say from experience, lacks in many other places. There’s no place like home!

HAIL OH HAIL CORINTH!

Upon commissioning, he started the training pipeline to become a Submarine Officer with stops in Charleston, SC and Ballston Spa, NY for the Navy's Nuclear Power School and Prototype, respectively. Upon completion of the long and rigorous training pipeline, he received orders to his first boat, the USS JOHN WARNER (SSN-785), a Virginia Class fast-attack submarine, homeported out of Norfolk, VA.

During his time onboard John Warner, LT Skinner served as the Reactor Controls Assistant, Communications Officer, Ship's Safety Officer, and Scuba Diving Officer. LT Skinner proudly received his dolphins (Submarine Warfare Insignia) in July of 2020. During his time onboard, he went on two deployments and completed multiple missions vital to National Security. Upon completing his first sea-tour, he rotated to shore-duty where he now works as a data analyst for COMSUBLANT N1 (Manpower/Personnel Management for the Submarine Force). Personal note from Alex: My time in the Navy has been extremely challenging and rewarding. I've learned much about myself, and have pushed myself to achieve things I never thought I would be able to. From overcoming struggles with understanding how a nuclear power plant works, to pushing through being at the brink of drowning while at the Navy's Dive School, to working 100+ hour work weeks for months on end, there was plenty of times that I thought about giving up or that it wasn't worth it. Now that I'm standing on the other side of it all, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I made the right decision by sticking it out, believing in myself, and never giving up. I will never claim to be the smartest or most talented person in a room, but I'm a firm believer that hard work beats talent... especially when talent doesn't work hard. Believe in yourself, don't make excuses, channel your inner mamba-mentality, and DOMINANTE your goals. I look back on my times at Corinth High School with fond memories and I firmly believe that I wouldn't have had the fortitude, determination and resolve to get to where I am today if I didn't come from that small-town in upstate NY. I am forever grateful.