Lasallian Founder's Alumni Award: Dedication to Quality Education, David Ruskoski

November 9, 2023

 From the Bishop Kelley Class of 1981.

Our next recipient is receiving an award for Dedication to Education which is one of the five tenets of the Lasallian Charism.  And if you ask 1981 graduate, David Ruskoski, how he developed high academic standards, he will tell you he did that here at Bishop Kelley.  A 1981 BK grad, David reminded us that when he was a student here, the grading scale was 93% for an A, 85% for a B, 77% for a C, and 70% for a D.  He said that made college courses feel a bit easier since the normal grading standard, the one we use today, is not as high. 


When David graduated from Bishop Kelley, he first earned Associate’s degrees from Tulsa Community College in History and German.  He then attended the University of Oklahoma where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Criminal Justice. Eventually, he moved to Atlanta where he studied at Georgia State University, earning a Master’s in History and completing his coursework toward a Ph.D., also in History.


In 2000, David moved back to Tulsa from Atlanta and became an Adjunct Professor at TCC while writing his dissertation on a World War I topic.  During this same time frame, David was a high school teacher, with most of his teaching done at a Title I high school in the Tulsa Public School system.  While teaching high school, David also coached boys basketball and girls soccer.  He graduated from Georgia State University with a Ph.D. in History in 2006 and was initially an Assistant Professor of History at Tulsa Community College where he is now an Associate Professor of History.


Dr. Ruskoski has led several “study abroad” trips to Europe, given lectures about American History at TCC’s Sister College, Jilin (Gee-Lin) Normal University in Siping (Si-ping), China, and has given several presentations about his research into the first World War at TCC, the University of Tulsa and many other places including Chaumont (Show-Mont), France.


David serves on the Tulsa Council for Holocaust Education and he has given several presentations at the Tulsa City/County Library. A year ago, he organized and hosted an event called “Tulsan’s Remember the Holocaust” that featured Holocaust Survivors who live in Tulsa. 


David continues to serve on the Tulsa Holocaust Education Committee.  He serves on the Advisory Board of the YMCA.  He’s also served multiple years on the United Way “Day of Caring” volunteer committee. David is a single parent to his three grown children, Heather, Laurel and Paul.  Paul is a 2022 BK graduate and he currently attends Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois which is also a LaSallian institution. 


David has twice received TCC’s Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence and he also received the Outstanding Alumni award from Tulsa Community College.  David credits two Bishop Kelley faculty members for being exceptional educators.  Donna Yadon, according to David, brought an amazingly positive attitude to her classes.  David says, as an educator, Brother Michael Witt was as brilliant as any that he encountered in his college career.


Please join us in congratulating this year’s recipient of the award for Dedication to Education, Dr. David Ruskoski.


Lasallian Founder’s Alumni Award

Recognizing the accomplishments of Outstanding Bishop Kelley Alumni who exemplify the five core principles of the Lasallian Mission; Faith in the Presence of God, Quality Education, Concern for the Poor & Social Justice, Respect for All Persons & Inclusive Community.


If you know a deserving BK Alumni, please nominate them here:

https://www.bishopkelley.org/alumni#LasallianFoundersAlumniAwardsNominationForm

Ryan Klerekoper Named Bishop Kelley’s 2025 St. Francis of Assisi Teacher of the Year

September 24, 2025
Ryan Klerekoper is in his fourth year as a teacher at Bishop Kelley. In his short tenure at the school, Ryan has quickly distinguished himself as an adept, informed, reflective and engaging teacher of English. Ryan has taught freshmen through seniors at Bishop Kelley, though his mainstay is freshman English. When Ryan arrived at Bishop Kelley, he moved into the English Department seamlessly; he has become an integral part of the department. His students meet his high expectations, and judging from the flock of students who gather around him between classes, he is beloved of current and former students alike. One peer teacher describes him as, “One of Bishop Kelley's best teachers. He creates engaging lessons for his students who thrive in his classroom and who enjoy his teaching immensely as well; Ryan prioritizes keeping rigor high while also keeping learning fun.” Ryan displays a genuine concern for the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development of his students. He holds his students to high standards but supports them in their efforts and struggles. He makes strong personal connections with each of his students. If you walk by his room before and after school, you find a room filled with animated students seeking his advice and affirmation. To help foster his own as well as his students’ spiritual growth, Ryan joined a faculty PLC to explore ways to integrate faith into his curriculum; he is genuinely focused on helping to develop the whole child. A fellow teacher describes him, “Ryan inspires his fellow English teachers to maintain the highest academic standards. He maintains humility by sharing and critiquing ideas as a team, incorporating new works of literature, and offering usable feedback with encouragement. It is a blessing to work with him; he is an outstanding teacher. “ Ryan holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in English from Northeastern State University. At Northeastern he won the Academic Achievement Award as the Most Outstanding Student in 2019. Prior to Bishop Kelley, Ryan taught both middle and high school English in the Union school district after a ten-year career with Mazzio's Pizza. The admiration and respect he inspires in both students and colleagues stand as a testament to the transformative impact he has on the lives of Bishop Kelley students. The 2025 Saint Francis of Assisi Teacher of the Year from Bishop Kelley is Ryan Klerekoper. Bishop Konderla will celebrate the SFOA Annual Mass and Teacher Awards: 👉 Friday, October 3, 2025 ⛪ 6 pm at Holy Family Cathedral

Thank You 2025 Auction Sponsors!

August 25, 2025
With over 350 in attendance on April 26, 2025 at Jarboe Hall, the BK community raised just over $312,500 (net) towards purchasing school bus transportation.