The Central Lee Community School District has inducted three new members to its Academic Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024.
This year, the Hall of Fame recognizes graduates from Central Lee High School’s classes of 1982, 2003, and 2010. Each was selected for their lasting and positive impact on the school community and beyond.
“We are continually impressed by the caliber of district alumni we celebrate each year,” said Dr. Andy Crozier, Central Lee Superintendent. “The class of 2024 Academic Hall of Fame inductees are no exception. These three graduates have excelled academically throughout their educational careers and have gone on to achieve remarkable success as leaders in their professions and communities.”
A 1982 co-valedictorian, Joan Chatfield Ealy was a leader at Central Lee, serving as president and treasurer of Student Council, president of National Honor Society, and vice president of both the Spanish and Science clubs. She earned an ACT score of 30 and was named a State of Iowa Scholar. As Student Council president, she led the effort to build the first concession stand on the east side of the parking lot, coordinating student fundraising and securing approval from the school board.
Ealy graduated summa cum laude from Monmouth College in 1986 with honors in psychology and physical education. She received multiple awards, including the Mortar Board Outstanding Senior Woman Award and the American Association of University Women Prize. At Monmouth, she held leadership roles in several organizations, including the Student Association, Pi Beta Phi, and the Community Activities Board. Additionally, Ealy was a four-year letter winner in volleyball and track, captain of both teams, and homecoming queen. She earned her Master’s in Public Administration from The Pennsylvania State University in 1988.
Ealy was selected as one of 200 participants in the Presidential Management Interns Program, launching a distinguished career within the U.S. Marshals Service. Highlights during her tenure include pivotal roles in implementing human capital plans, drafting national policies, and receiving numerous honors. Ealy retired as the Human Capital and Accountability Manager for the U.S. Marshals Service and now splits her time between Florida and Iowa.
Inductee Dr. Eric Krebill, one of Central Lee’s 2003 valedictorians, was a highly accomplished multi-sport athlete with a tenacious work ethic. Along with participating in baseball, football, basketball, and soccer, he worked at Dahms Chevrolet and on his family’s farm. Krebill received a valedictorian scholarship to the University of Iowa, where he worked as a student assistant in the Central Microscopy Research Facility and earned Dean’s and President’s List honors. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biology and a minor in Psychology in 2007. In 2011, Krebill earned his Doctor of Medicine from The Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.
Krebill completed his residency in General Surgery at Michigan State University’s Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners, where he was named “Resident of the Year” in 2015-2016. He also served as a teacher and mentor to medical students and fellow residents, achieving his American Board of Surgery Certification in 2016. Krebill is now a partner of Grand Health Partners, a bariatric and metabolic surgery practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is also a Medical Director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Trinity Health Grand Rapids and Grand Haven Hospitals. Krebill has contributed to professional medical textbooks and teaches medical students and residents. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Brittany, and their three children.
In 2010, Brittani Patterson graduated from Central Lee High School and received her Associate of Arts degree from Southeastern Community College, where she was enrolled concurrently. Throughout high school, she was involved in several clubs, including the Science Club and Show Choir. Patterson also held leadership roles as vice president and president of the Art Club and treasurer and vice president of the National Honor Society. Additionally, she participated in an Iowa State University mentorship program, and her science fair research project won awards from both the Iowa Academy of Science and the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair.
Patterson graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Iowa State University, earning Dean's List honors and the Academic Distinction Award. While at ISU, she also co-authored several peer-reviewed papers on methanotrophic bacteria and methane monooxygenases.
For over a decade, Patterson has worked in the biotech and pharmaceutical fields, including roles at Integrated DNA Technologies and currently at Ribometrix in North Carolina. As a Scientist II, she leads RNA production for cancer drug research. In 2024, she co-authored a poster on her RNA-targeting project, which was published in the American Association for Cancer Research Journal. Patterson lives with her husband and daughter in North Carolina.
The Academic Hall of Fame was established as a platform to honor, preserve, and celebrate Central Lee's rich history and its tradition of academic excellence. It highlights the significance of high-achieving graduates and former staff members who left a lasting impact on the school community during their time at Central Lee.
Community members, families, staff, and alumni are encouraged to nominate individuals for Hall of Fame recognition. To be eligible for nomination, individuals must have graduated from Central Lee schools or have been a staff member and should be at least five years removed from their association with the district. A committee reviews all nominations and determines each year's inductees. Central Lee also has Athletic and Fine Arts Halls of Fame.
The Central Lee Community School District's Hall of Fame ceremony to honor the 2024 inductees will take place in the Spring of 2026 celebrating 2024 & 2025 inductees. The district has yet to announce the date of the ceremony.