Lasallian Founder's Alumni Award: Outstanding Young Alumni, Allison Stuckey

November 9, 2023

From the Bishop Kelley Class of 2017.

The BK graduate chosen for the Young Alumni award each year must command respect and attention within his or her field of endeavor. Additionally, they must have high moral standards and be involved in professional, religious or civic organizations. While at Bishop Kelley, they must have excelled as a student and been involved in extracurricular activities.


This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni award checks all those boxes and then some. Ally Stuckey graduated from Bishop Kelley in 2017, having been very active as a student here in STUCO, the Spirit Squad, Speech and Debate, and she won the Principal’s Leadership award.


Ally attended All Saints Catholic School in Broken Arrow before entering BK as a freshman. Ally said she was blessed with many wonderful teachers at All Saints and here at Bishop Kelley. She said several of them sowed seeds of faith into their lessons and they nurtured those seeds throughout her time as a student here. Because of them, Ally says she was able to find Christ early in her high school career. And her teachers inspired her to become an educator as well.


Ally appreciates and values the opportunity she had to begin and end each school day with a prayer as well as the many opportunities to attend Mass that BK affords our students. She said that Bishop Kelley taught her to not exclaim boldly how faithful she is, but instead, to show boldly how faithful one is in their day to day actions.


Ally kept a smile on her face most all of the time she was a student here. She loved being a Comet Ambassador and a Link Crew Leader.  She attended several retreats offered by campus ministry and was involved in numerous school clubs. While at BK, she participated in Heart Ball and earned a spot in the National Honors Society. She served on her class board and was committed to doing lots of community service, having earned over 400 hours of service in her four years here. She volunteered at Night Light Tulsa, Catholic Charities, Youth Advisory Board, along with several service opportunities around campus. She graduated from Bishop Kelley with a 4.07 weighted GPA.


When Ally was a student here, the school moved forward with a fundraising project to construct a new cheer gym and wrestling facility that are separate but part of the same new structure. One day Ally came to BK’s Philanthropy Office to ask Doug Thomas if anyone could give to help fund the project. When Doug told her that all gifts were welcomed, Ally said that she had saved $500 that she earned from babysitting and she wanted to give that to the project.


Since her senior year at BK, Ally has served her community as a selected board member on the Youth Advisory Board that’s part of Youth Services of Tulsa. In that role, she has made executive decisions on how to best serve the homeless youth of Tulsa.


Ally attended Oklahoma State University where she was selected as one of 112 incoming freshmen for the President’s Leadership Council and one of the top 25 incoming freshman women as a Freshman Representative Council. During her four years in Stillwater, Ally was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church.


She was an elected member of the OSU student foundation where she worked closely with donors to inspire the student body to participate in philanthropic giving. As a freshman at OSU, Ally pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority where she served as Vice President of Academic Excellence and then eventually president of her chapter.  She was a member of the OSU Honors College all four years and graduated with a 3.95 GPA. During her senior year, she was chosen as a Woman for OSU Scholar. That program is open to all female students at OSU. She was one of 12 chosen for that award. During her time at OSU, she served as a campus tour guide, working with prospective students. She also served as a library ambassador to educate the Stillwater community about OSU’s library resources and she was a Camp Cowboy counselor.


Today, Ally teaches second grade at Jenks West Elementary School and volunteers as an assistant cheer coach at Bishop Kelley. She finds comfort in supporting her students in all areas of their lives. On weeknights as well as weekends, you can often find her cheering on her students at their activities and games.


Ally embodies a true servant’s heart and leads by example with her continuous, positive attitude. She says the leadership opportunities she received at Bishop Kelley gave her the confidence to achieve great things and we have no doubt that she inspired many people at OSU to do likewise. Ally will always be an ambassador for Bishop Kelley High School and will use every opportunity she has to share with others her love of Bishop Kelley. Once a Comet, always a Comet. 


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

Bishop Kelley High School Names Alumna Hannah Gilliard Sipes ’04 as Director of Philanthropy

April 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tulsa, Okla. — Bishop Kelley High School is pleased to announce the appointment of alumna Hannah Gilliard Sipes ’04 as the next Director of Philanthropy. Sipes will begin her role on May 1, 2026, and will work alongside current Director of Philanthropy Doug Thomas through September, ensuring a thoughtful and seamless transition. A native Tulsan and proud Bishop Kelley graduate, Sipes returns to her alma mater with more than a decade of strategic leadership in nonprofit fundraising and a deep commitment to mission-driven work. She earned her degree in Business Management from Oklahoma State University and has built a strong reputation across Tulsa for cultivating meaningful relationships and advancing philanthropic impact. “As a Bishop Kelley alumna, Hannah understands firsthand the lifelong value of a Bishop Kelley Catholic education,” said Sister Mary Hanah Doak, RSM, President of Bishop Kelley High School. “Her professional experience, combined with her heart for this community, makes her uniquely positioned to lead our philanthropic efforts in service of students into the future. We are thrilled to welcome her home.” During her time as a student at Bishop Kelley, Sipes was actively involved in theater, one-act plays, improvisation, and speech and debate. These formative experiences sparked her appreciation for communication, creativity, and community engagement. Most recently, Sipes served as Associate Director of Advancement for Development at Cascia Hall Preparatory School. She previously held leadership roles with Global Gardens and the American Heart Association, where she focused on corporate partnerships and philanthropic growth. She is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Sipes will succeed Doug Thomas, who will retire in September 2026 after 14 years of extraordinary service to Bishop Kelley. The five-month overlap between Thomas and Sipes is a rare and meaningful opportunity that reflects Bishop Kelley’s commitment to continuity, stewardship, and long-term success. Together, they will work closely to ensure a smooth transition and continued momentum in advancing the school’s philanthropic priorities. “I am honored and excited to return to Bishop Kelley in this role,” said Sipes. “This community played a significant role in shaping who I am, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place to support future generations of students.” Sipes lives in Sand Springs with her husband, James, an Army veteran, and their two daughters, who attend Marquette Catholic School. The family are parishioners at Christ the King Catholic Church. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family-cheering on her daughters in their activities, and exploring national parks together. With deep roots in the Bishop Kelley community and a clear vision for the future, Sipes will lead the school’s philanthropic efforts in support of its mission to prepare students’ hearts and minds for a purposeful life. Bishop Kelley Mission Statement Bishop Kelley is a Catholic diocesan high school, inspired by St. John Baptist De La Salle, that carries on the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ by preparing students’ hearts and minds for a purposeful life. More About Bishop Kelley Bishop Kelley High School is Oklahoma’s largest private high school and is considered a life-preparatory institution. It offers a faith-based education that fosters academic excellence, spiritual growth and personal development. The school features a rigorous curriculum, including more than 40 honors and AP courses across a wide range of disciplines. With an average ACT score of 28 and an average SAT score of 1260, Bishop Kelley graduates are well-prepared for college, with 90% attending four-year institutions. The Blessed Stanley Rother Academic Support Program provides individualized assistance to students with diverse learning needs. Beyond the classroom, students can choose from more than 30 clubs and organizations, while athletes, academic bowl, and the speech and debate team compete in 20 OSSAA-sanctioned sports. The campus includes state-of-the-art facilities for academics, athletics, dining and the arts. Recent improvements were made possible through the successful completion of the $25 Million We Are BK capital campaign-funded entirely through private donors, not tuition dollars.
A welcome graphic for Bishop Kelley School’s haplain, Rev. Joshua Votruba, featuring his portrait on a red background.

Bishop Kelley Welcomes Rev. Joshua Votruba as Chaplain

April 10, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tulsa, OK— The Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma has announced that Rev. Joshua Votruba will serve as Chaplain of Bishop Kelley High School beginning July 1, 2026. Ordained to the priesthood on June 25, 2021, Fr. Joshua currently serves as Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Cathedral and as Master of Ceremonies for Divine Liturgies for the Diocese. Growing up in Tulsa most of his life, Fr. Joshua is a graduate of Union High School and studied Philosophy and Letters at the University of Dallas before completing his seminary formation at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, where he graduated in 2021. His home parish is the Church of St. Benedict in Broken Arrow. Fr. Joshua’s vocation to the priesthood began at a young age through his experience serving at Mass and witnessing the joy of bringing others into the Church. That early encounter grew into a deep desire to help others know Christ more personally, a mission that continues to shape his priesthood today. In addition to his parish and diocesan responsibilities, Fr. Joshua has experience working with young people through catechetical programs such as Totus Tuus, where he taught and mentored students in both classroom and small group settings. As Bishop Kelley’s Chaplain, Fr. Joshua will play a central role in the spiritual life of the school, supporting students, faculty, and staff through the celebration of the sacraments, daily prayer, and ongoing faith formation. We are grateful for the faithful service of our current Chaplain, Fr. Jon Fincher, whose care for our students and community over the past three years has been a true blessing. “We look forward to welcoming Fr. Joshua to our school community,” said BK Principal Jim Franz. “His love for the Faith and his desire to bring others into a deeper relationship with Christ will be a blessing to Bishop Kelley. At the same time, we are also greatly appreciative of the excellent work Fr. Fincher did during his time at Bishop Kelley.” Please join us in welcoming Fr. Joshua to Bishop Kelley. Bishop Kelley Mission Statement Bishop Kelley is a Catholic diocesan high school, inspired by St. John Baptist De La Salle, that carries on the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ by preparing students’ hearts and minds for a purposeful life. More About Bishop Kelley Bishop Kelley High School is Oklahoma’s largest private high school and is considered a life-preparatory institution. It offers a faith-based education that fosters academic excellence, spiritual growth and personal development. The school features a rigorous curriculum, including more than 40 honors and AP courses across a wide range of disciplines. With an average ACT score of 28 and an average SAT score of 1260, Bishop Kelley graduates are well-prepared for college, with 90% attending four-year institutions. The Blessed Stanley Rother Academic Support Program provides individualized assistance to students with diverse learning needs. Beyond the classroom, students can choose from more than 30 clubs and organizations, while athletes, academic bowl, and the speech and debate team compete in 20 OSSAA-sanctioned sports. The campus includes state-of-the-art facilities for academics, athletics, dining and the arts. Recent improvements were made possible through the successful completion of the $25 Million We Are BK capital campaign-funded entirely through private donors, not tuition dollars.