Kirby Rice is a Cisco College rodeo cowgirl who accomplished what many people would consider impossible – not only did she participate in 10 college rodeos this past year and receive an award for Outstanding Rodeo Student, but she also began her first year of Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) training at the college’s Nursing School.
She did this while commuting from Stephenville to Cisco for rodeo practice, to Abilene for nursing classes and clinicals, and at least once leaving directly from Abilene to head out to the next rodeo, the Pecos College Rodeo on April 9.
Kirby admits that having such an intense schedule “turned my life upside down for a minute.” She said she had never had to study in school, that learning came pretty easily. But in nursing school, “I actually have to study. So I was trying to navigate how to study and retain information and apply it in the medical field, all at the same time.” Before beginning nursing school, Kirby had to take some prerequisites, which she completed in her sophomore year. She had to take two courses of Anatomy and Physiology in the Biology Department, as well as a course on Medical Terminology, in addition to other courses. She had to become certified in CPR, and she also took a required 5-week course to become a state-licensed Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She then was eligible to begin LVN training in August 2025, and expects to finish the LVN training this coming August.
