From his beginnings as a student to his current role as Culinary Arts Instructional Aide, Cortland Henning has embraced every opportunity to contribute to Moraine Park Technical College’s mission while inspiring others along the way.
As MPTC’s Culinary Arts Instructional Aide, Henning plays a vital part in helping students thrive. His work ensures that instructional supplies—ranging from food items to equipment—are always ready, enabling students to learn through innovative methods.
“This allows our students to grow their minds and skills in Culinary Arts,” Henning said. “That growth doesn’t stop in the classroom. It extends to businesses and communities when they enter the workforce.”
Henning graduated from Moraine Park’s Culinary Arts program in 2021 as a first generation college student. He was a part of the College’s Promise Program, an opportunity designed to remove financial barriers for high school seniors within the district.
“My family didn’t have the money to send me to college,” Henning said. “But being a Promise student allowed me to achieve dreams I didn’t think were possible.”
After gaining valuable experience in the restaurant industry, Henning returned to MPTC in October 2024, ready to give back to the program that shaped his career.
“It felt like a good fit to expand my career,” Henning said. “But most importantly, I wanted to come back as an alumnus to support the college and program that served me so well.”
Henning’s passion for community involvement is evident in his work with MPTC students and local events. He supports initiatives like Fresh Bread Tuesdays in MPTC’s Park Terrace restaurant, MPTC Winter and Spring Farmers Market and Fondue Fest, where students’ creations provide delicious food to both the local and college communities.
As co-advisor for the Culinary Arts Club, Henning oversees student-led community service projects, and he’s preparing to teach community cooking classes starting in 2025.
“The work environment is so positive, and everyone has each other’s backs. It gives me a sense of community and care, which helps me do my job and makes me enjoy coming to work every day,” Henning said.
Cortland draws inspiration from his mother, whose resilience and work ethic as a single parent raising three children taught him the value of perseverance.
“Through all her hardships and roadblocks, she always made it work for her family,” he says. “Her dedication inspires me to do the same in my career.”