Student Stories

John Franzwa

COCC graduate, Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree 
Bachelor’s degree in history and anthropology, Western Oregon University

History took John Franzwa to a convergence of learning.  

"COCC allowed me to see how I could blend various course studies together for a more complete education," he says. "By taking History, Geography, and Anthropology courses together, I was able to effectively apply what I learned from one subject to gain a deeper understanding of another. The different departments worked together seamlessly for my overall benefit," says Franzwa, who is presently researching master's degree programs and planning to develop a career as a museum curator or archivist.  

"COCC allowed me to see how I could blend various course studies together for a more complete education."

Franzwa credits his Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree from COCC with setting him up for success at Western Oregon University, where he graduated with a bachelor's in history and anthropology. He now sees his future, and region of the country, with new eyes. 

"I believe there are great and unique opportunities in the Pacific Northwest to grow the field of commercial history," he adds. "We have a special combination of natural and human history that is largely unknown to the public, and I would love to share my love of the subject with others, like my instructors at COCC did with me — having instructors so invested in their subject made it easy for me to invest as well."