Ian Burkhart has a strong drive to seek positive energy, focus on the good aspects of life and people, and utilize all available resources to improve the quality of life for himself and others, despite a spinal cord injury in 2010 that caused tetraplegia.

Burkhart's work ethic is evident through his work as president of the Ian Burkhart Foundation, which he founded in 2017. The foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes independence for individuals living with spinal cord injuries. It also holds fundraising events and awards grants. Additionally, Burkhart serves as principal of the Ian Burkhart Foundation Consulting group where he works on medical device development and strategy.

Burkhart is also a member of Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, a peer mentor for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and a research consultant for Ohio State Medical Center & Battelle Memorial Institute. He has been selected to talk at TedX Columbus and South by Southwest and he most recently spoke at the NeuroTech 2020 Virtual conference about clinical brain computer interface applications.

In 2019, Burkhart was awarded the Pioneer Award by the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. He also is a 2017 recipient of the Brain Health Hero Award by the Stan & Jodi Ross Center for Brain Health Performance. The Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association named him coach of the year in 2012 when he was an assistant coach for Jerome, a position he held for seven years.

Burkhart has made contributions to science as well. He was the only participant in a clinical trial entitled “Reanimation in Tetraplegia,” which was conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the Battelle Memorial Institute. He received a surgically-implanted microelectrode array that records activity from his motor cortex, uses a machine learning algorithm to decode cortical activity, and then applies functional electrical stimulation to allow him to control his wrist and hand movements. This system was the first system to use intracortical signals to control muscle stimulation in a paralyzed human. He also assisted in a survey design and development for a survey that will assess priorities, meaningful benefits and expectations for recovery with spinal cord stimulation therapy.

Click here for a video about Ian's important work.

Peter Coratola Jr., Dublin Jerome Class of 2007, used his passion for entrepreneurship to establish and launch EASE Logistics Services, a multi-operational supply chain and transportation solution, in 2014.

EASE Logistics is a third-party logistics company providing services to automotive, aerospace and food and beverage companies. Coratola implemented an unparalleled response-time customer service model and strict carrier vetting process. As a result, EASE has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the area.

For his work with EASE, Coratola was named to the 40 Under 40 list in 2021 by Columbus Business First Magazine. He received a Small Business Leaders Award from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Coratola was named the Ohio Success Award: COVID Response Executive Hero of the Year in 2020 by the Ohio Business Magazine as the most successful and consistent organization across the state.

Coratola has certainly not forgotten his roots, as he has remained in Dublin and frequently hires Dublin City Schools graduates. He also sponsors several local events and causes such as the Dublin Arts Festival, Dublin Fireworks, Welcome Warehouse Adopt-a-Family program and the Dublin Food Pantry. Additionally, Coratola was an assistant middle school lacrosse coach for six years and he serves on the District’s Business Advisory Council.

In January 2020, EASE moved to a larger, innovative location in Dublin. The new company headquarters consists of three buildings and spans close to 12,000 square feet, nearly triple the size of their previous space.

Before starting EASE Logistics, Coratola was a project manager for Innovate Hospitality, where he developed the production strategy to execute renovations for several large hotels. He also was the logistics coordinator for R2 Logistics, where he analyzed client transportation data to develop logistic strategies to reduce cost and improve service. He also was a manager of national accounts at a Fortune 500 brokerage, and now he handles critical shipments and single-sourced relationships for several Fortune 500 companies.

Coratola, a 2011 graduate of The Ohio State University with a BSBA degree in criminology and supply chain management lives in Dublin with his wife Elizabeth and their three sons, Peter, Benjamin and William.

Alex Van Krevel rose through the ranks of the Army and achieved the rank of Captain before he was deployed to Afghanistan as the Senior Manager of Fire Support Operations in 2014-2015, where he logged over 144 combat patrols.

In Afghanistan, Van Krevel directly advised the maneuver commander and his staff on fire support matters and capabilities. He kept key personnel informed of combat progressions, pertinent situational reports and enemy activity within the area of operations. In this role, he was personally selected to work in tandem with Army Special Operations Terminal Attack Controllers. Van Krevel earned the Combat Action Badge for meritorious performance through multiple engagements with enemy forces.

Following high school, Van Krevel attended the United States Military Academy Prep School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and he is also a graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point. He graduated from West Point in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Systems Engineering.

While at the United States Military Academy, Van Krevel served as Platoon Sergeant for the West Point Summer Garrison Regiment detail where he supervised 46 of his peers. He also served as 3rd Platoon, Golf Company, 1st BN, 1st Regiment, Platoon Leader for a semester where he managed platoon operations and personnel and he worked hand in hand with the Cadet Company Commander.

Van Krevel also used his strong work ethic and determination on the lacrosse field. He lettered all four years at Jerome and was the team’s offensive Most Valuable Player his junior and senior years. After graduation and upon acceptance into the United States Military Academy, he became a three-year starter for the Army Black Nights where he played first line offensive midfielder. In 2012, Johns Hopkins University presented Van Krevel with the Chris Gardner Award to honor the Player of the Game.

Since leaving the military, Van Krevel is a net lease retail broker for Marcus & Millichap. He has been there since 2018 and he specializes exclusively in the sale of single-tenant, net leased, retail properties nationwide. He primarily represents and advises developers, investment funds, and owner/operators.

In addition to being a television and movie actor, writer and producer, Chris Wood, Jerome Class of 2006, founded IDONTMIND in 2017, which has raised more than $600,000 for Mental Health America.

IDONTMIND is a mental health awareness campaign and lifestyle brand that works to defeat the stigma around mental illness. The goal is to get people talking about their minds and to generate positive messaging about mental health. The company uses clothing sales to raise money for mental health awareness, as well as start opportunities to discuss mental health.

“IDONTMIND is an awareness campaign with a mission to inspire open and honest conversations about mental health,” the company’s website says. “Simply put – we want to make talking about mental health a normal part of everyday life, giving people the confidence to ask for help when they need it. Join our campaign and say IDONTMIND talking about my mental health.”

IDONTMIND is an official program of Mental Health America, the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the overall mental health of everyone. With over 200 affiliates and associates in 42 states, 6,500 affiliate staff and over 10,000 volunteers, MHA brings over 100 years of experience and knowledge to IDONTMIND.

Outside of IDONTMIND, Wood stays busy as an actor, writer and director. After graduating from Elon University in 2010, he went on tour playing the lead role in  Spring Awakening the rock musical  before starting his work in film and television, where he’s best known for his roles in Supergirl, The Vampire Diaries, and Containment. Chris voices the role of “He-Man” in the upcoming Netflix animated series, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, playing opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar and Mark Hamill. His latest short film, Snowshoe (which he wrote and directed), will be premiering at a festival later this year. Currently, Chris is writing a feature for Paramount+, and he has another feature in development with Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment. 

Wood now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

An avid swim coach and diabetes advocate, Tanner Barton, Jerome Class of 2013, tirelessly works to educate and empower others.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 8 years old, Barton has refused to be defined by the disease. He is vital to the outreach, fundraising and advocacy efforts for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). In 2009, Barton attended Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C. and then in 2013, he became the youngest individual to sit on the inaugural, international JDRF T1D Voices Council. Currently, he represents JDRF on the international Novo Nordisk DEEP task force. He has been to Copenhagen, Denmark several times to help pharmaceutical companies focus on patient centricity in decision-making processes.

Additionally, Barton engages in diabetes research. His most recent research identifies major social media themes in the online diabetes community and the research team findings were published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology (Nov. 2018). Barton also helped to edit the College Diabetes Survival Guide in 2014.  

Barton graduated summa cum laude from Ball State University in May 2017, where he was an Honors College student-athlete who double-majored in Health Science and Spanish. He was an NCAA Division I varsity swimmer, two-time team captain and four year conference finalist in the 200 Butterfly. Upon graduating from Ball State, Barton earned the Bob James Memorial Award, which is awarded to the MAC student-athlete of the year with special emphasis on leadership, character and citizenship. Barton then graduated in 2019 with a Master of Science in Exercise Science with a concentration in Sport Performance. He also holds active credentials as a Certified Health Education Specialist.

Following his career as a student-athlete, Barton transitioned to collegiate coaching.  He first became a head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at 23 years old at Anderson University. There, Barton coached the program’s first conference champion and under his guidance, the men were recognized as a Scholar All-America Team – the first in program history. Now the head coach at John Carroll University, Barton’s teams finished the season with undefeated records.

Stephen and Carolyn Francis have been instrumental in developing the conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion in the Dublin area, specifically at Dublin Jerome High School during the school’s early years.

Stephen and Carolyn’s two sons, Stephen and John, attended Jerome and the parenting pair spearheaded a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion that brought a long term positive impact to the entire Jerome community. They began by hosting meetings at their home for parents of black and multiracial students who were attending Jerome. In addition to parent meetings, many of the students met in their house as well to get to know each other and form a solid bond.

Mr. and Mrs. Francis also used the power of connection to help better the Jerome community. They were visible, positive influences at Jerome by being active in their sons’ activities and they fostered positive relationships with many Jerome parents and booster groups. They also enlisted the help of Dr. Antoinette Miranda, a professor at The Ohio State University who specializes in social justice and its relation to academic success.

“Their expertise and positive communication with our Jerome community truly impacted Jerome then and now,” fellow Hall of Fame inductee and former Jerome Principal Cathy Sanky said. “We truly dedicated ourselves, with Stephen and Carolyn’s leadership and support, to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion in our school communities, clubs and organizations and became purposeful and mindful in our awards and recognitions.”

Mr. Francis is the founder, president and strategist of Franchise D&I Solutions, LLC, which is a diversity consulting firm. He provides public and private sector solutions to organizations based on 35 years of experience in the areas of workforce diversity, supplier diversity, diverse community outreach and engagement, diverse communications and public relations, diverse government relations and the use of diversity scorecards and metrics. In this role, Mr. Francis has led Dublin City Schools staff members through diversity training.

Mrs. Francis is a successful business person as President and CEO of Williams Interior Designs. She has won the Fast 50 business award from Columbus Business First five times, which is an award that recognizes some of the fastest growing local companies.

After 15 years as an English and Language Arts teacher at middle and high school levels in Centerburg, Lexington and Hilliard Schools, Sankey began her administrative career as an assistant principal at Dublin Coffman High School in 2000-2004. Sankey then moved to Jerome in 2004, the inaugural year for the school, as an assistant principal, a position she held for two years.

Sankey became the principal of Jerome in 2006 and she held that position for nine years until 2015. With Sankey at the helm, Jerome quickly elevated to a premiere high school. The school was named a National Blue Ribbon School, received a National Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work School Award in 2013, and earned the designation as one of America’s best high schools in Newsweek, US News and World Report and the Daily Beast for multiple years.

Jerome students thrived while Sankey was on the administrative team. The building has had the most National Merit Semi-finalists in Ohio for multiple years and it earned the Programme for International Student Assessment highest achievement designation in 2010. The students have also combined for AP Scholars, AP Scholars with Honors and AP Scholar with Distinction designations, multiple perfect ACT scores, and many International Baccalaureate diplomas.

In addition to student achievement, Sankey had a strong team that she led while at Jerome. Tom McDonnell, Bob Scott, Andy Wilkinson, Matt Sachtleben, Mike Aurin, Forrest Trisler and Richard Bailey are all principals or administrators now, with several still serving in the District.

Currently, Sankey is the thought leader, founder and president of See. Believe. Do. LLC, a leadership consultant company, which she founded in 2016. She currently serves as Leadership Consultant for Ability Matters, a Dublin company that serves students and adults with neurological and developmental disabilities. She still is involved in education with presentations and workshops and she holds several positions with The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology.

Sankey is a 35-year resident of Dublin with her husband Jeff. Her daughter, Jennifer, is a teacher and graduate of Dublin City Schools and her granddaughter, Marisol, is a first-grader this fall.