POCAHONTAS, AR November 15, 2019 – For the Fall 2019 semester, Taylor Retherford of Lafe and Ally
Cox of Pocahontas, practical nursing students at BRTC, were awarded $the Katie Blankenship Kirby
Scholarship.
The scholarship was created in memory of Katie Kirby by her nursing classmates. Katie graduated from
the PN program at BRTC in December 2015. She worked in obstetrics after obtaining her RN degree.
Katie loved life, her dear husband Jacob, caring for her farm and farm animals, and her career of
bringing new life into the world. Katie worked until she lost her battle to cancer at the age of 23.
The scholarship is awarded to individuals who possess the characteristic of Katie. The scholarship was
awarded by Katie's mother, Leslie Blankenship and Katie's mother-in-law, Lisa Kirby.
For more information about BRTC’s practical nursing program, contact Director Tonya Hankins at (870)
248-4174 or email her at Tonya.Hankins@blackrivertech.edu.