Hennepin Technical College Instructor Kerry Norling Honored for Excellence In Teaching

Kerry Norling, instructor in the Hennepin Technical College Communications department, was selected as one of six recipients of the 2018 Minnesota State Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award, which was presented at a ceremony on April 18, recognizes and rewards faculty who have achieved exceptional professional accomplishments over the course of their professional lives, and encourages them in their pursuit of teaching excellence.

Kerry Norling was recognized for her commitment to ensuring that students have the skills and confidence they need to communicate effectively in personal and professional settings. Additionally, the committee noted her exemplary work in recognizing student differences or challenges—such as recovering from past traumatic experiences, living with disabilities, or navigating across multiple languages and cultures—and adapting her instruction to help all students learn.

Norling holds two bachelor’s degrees in communications and an MA in Speech Communications from MSU, Mankato. She has been a full-time instructor at Hennepin Technical College since 2000.

In addition to Norling’s award, Jay Siedschlaw, Landscape and Horticulture instructor, was a State Board of Trustees Award of Excellence in Teaching finalist.

Both Siedschlaw and Norling were nominated by Hennepin Technical College president Dr. Merrill Irving, Jr.

About Hennepin Technical College
Founded in 1972, Hennepin Technical College is the largest technical college in Minnesota. With campuses in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie, Hennepin Technical College has a diverse student population of nearly 20,000 and offers degree and non-degree coursework in over 45 programs. Achieving a 98% job placement rate within its network of industry partners, Hennepin Technical College prepares students for in-demand and high-paying employment opportunities Hennepin Technical College is a member of Minnesota State, which includes 30 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 400,000 students. It is the fourth-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.