By Chris Cox

From a young age, Prague’s Kinsey Rice knew she wanted to be a nurse. That’s why when the opportunity to begin her nursing educating came early, she knew she had to jump on it. 

“I have always wanted to be a nurse,” she says. “I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to get medical education before graduating high school. Nursing is truly my passion, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds. I am extremely blessed for everyone that has helped me get here.”

While Kinsey is a humble student and acknowledges all of the people that have helped her get to where she is, her instructor, Rachel Pritchett, praises Rice for her hard work.

“She will be a great nurse,” Pritchett says. “She is very compassionate, kind, organized, hardworking, and determined to reach her goal of becoming a nurse. I have no doubt she will succeed! She is always one of the first ones to volunteer and help me with whatever I need. I am grateful I have the opportunity to instruct such an amazing young lady, who I knowwill greatly impact the healthcare industry.”

Rice is currently pursuing several different certifications through Gordon Cooper Technology Center’s Advanced Health Careers program. They include phlebotomy, EKG technician, medical coding, and unit health secretary. Following her high school graduation Rice says she plans to continue her studies at Gordon Cooper.

“I want to continue with Gordon Cooper’s LPN program,” she says. “After that I want to acquire my RN and BSN and eventually become a nurse practitioner.”

Rice has enjoyed her education at Gordon Cooper so much that she eventually wants to come back after finishing her education.

“I will apply all of my knowledge from here to all of my future schools,” she says. “I would also love to come back to the program and be an instructor.”

Like most students at Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Rice is very busy. Not only is she pursing her nursing education at Gordon Cooper, be Rice is also the valedictorian of her class at Prague High School. She is also the president of her GCTC chapter, a member of the Prague Student Council, Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Health Occupation Students of America, and a member of Garden Grove Baptist Church.