Franz Weinschenk has taken Fresno City College on a historical journey through decades of teaching. He has reminisced about times of struggle, times of pride, and times of imminent change.

His experiences are unique: they have given perspective to the thoughts, the feelings, and the emotions that he experienced during societal changes that were simultaneously stirring at the forefront of his teaching career.

Weinschenk has taken readers through the turmoil of the sixties, the growth and preservation of the seventies and the present energy crisis within the last three decades. The future for Franz continues to be emphasized in the importance of energy preservation and alternatives as the world faces increasing shortages of its most natural resources.

He writes a column every month for the Community Alliance newspaper in which he highlights energy saving tips and discussions in the surrounding community and beyond.

“I will continue to be an energy activist,” he said. “I don’t mind paying visits to the Fresno City Council to express my concerns regarding the energy consumption taking place in the Fresno area and suggesting possible improvements. You want to be respectful [to the council] and wait your turn. Many times, if you keep at it, something good will come out of it,”

Aside from his energy-saving crusade, Weinschenk is looking forward to teaching one class for the fall semester of 2008: English 3: Critical Thinking. He wishes that students weren’t so consumed within the world of gadgetry and electronics as far as e-mail and texting go.

The challenge he continually faces is: “How do you keep students interested with all these technological advancements?” Maintaining students interested is by teaching them the fundamental basics of learning. His hope is that electronics do not begin to substitute real human relationships which he finds lead to distance learning.

“I am really all about having a teacher teach students and watch their reactions in class while I speak and listen to their concerns and really, in essence, watch them learn, think and interact” he said.

Weinschenk’s story is unique: he continues to adjust and adapt to students’ ways of thinking and interacting. He has challenged all odds by continuing to instill traditional ways of learning and thinking among his students.

Although he has long since been retired, he remains a part-time professor on the FCC campus.

The love of teaching and keeping busy has kept him lecturing new batches of students as the years pass by. When faced with questions about his teaching career on the FCC campus in the present and in his future, he simply says:

“I don’t think I am going to be bored anytime soon.”

Weinschenk juggles several hobbies. He spends his Wednesday nights hosting KVPR’s Valley Writers Read workshop. Callers listen, read and discuss poetry, short essays and stories pertaining to their lives or those around them.

He also spends much time making home decorations and carvings out of patterns.

His collection includes those of blue jays, doves, eagles, and other small caricatures. He also makes flowers out of tin cans. So far he has made a gopher and a mantis just for fun. Although he says, “I am definitely not an artist.”

If he’s not practicing his artistic talents at home, he can be found participating in marathon competitions. Recently, he participated in a triathlon where he swam eight laps, rode a bike for ten miles and ran for two miles. With an enthusiastic smile, he says “It only took me an hour and twenty minutes.”

Thus far, Weinschenk hopes to keep busy for the coming years. One thing he knows for sure is that he “is old enough to enjoy life, keep busy and be active.” At eighty eight years old, Franz is leaving a legacy of teaching on the FCC campus and beyond.

His years of teaching and his stories of experience have added to the spirit of FCC. His recollections and memories have added to the knowledge that FCC Students gain. His wisdom has become a part of our knowledge, our learning, that we will carry with us on our educational journey beyond the hallways of what we now know to be Fresno City College.