Flexibility is clearly one ingredient for grad Ryan Harbaugh
—Heather Smith, Communique’
While attending the University of Iowa to obtain a degree in biochemical engineering, Ryan Harbaugh discovered what his true passion really was. It was cooking.
Harbaugh said he supported himself while attending college by working as a restaurant cook. When he graduated in 2002 the job market for biochemical engineering wasn’t great and he said he just really wanted to keep cooking, so he enrolled at Kirkwood Community College.
Currently residing in Cedar Rapids with his 7-year-old daughter Lunlana, Harbaugh is a culinary arts student at Kirkwood, were he also works at the Class Act Restaurant supervising the other 15 students on the staff. He works outside of school too as a supervisor at Applebee’s where he has been for six years.
“I chose Kirkwood because they have an excellent culinary program and are flexible enough to allow me to go to school while raising my daughter,” Harbaugh said. He added, “The atmosphere that the faculty and instructors provide at Kirkwood is the best part about it. I have attended a few different colleges but Kirkwood definitely nurtures a learning environment.
Harbaugh attended Muscatine High School where he graduated in 1998 with honors and received a full scholarship to Drake University where he studied environmental science. He then transferred to the University of Iowa in 1999 where he later graduated. He was also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Kiwanas.
He has been nominated as one of Kirkwood’s outstanding students, has been on the dean’s list every semester of the three years he has attended and was also nominated to be part of the All American Academic Team for Kirkwood.
Harbaugh said in his free time he likes to play with his daughter, go camping and hiking, and of course, he enjoys cooking. He said he also enjoys mixed martial arts (MMA) which he used to participate in.