[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14236]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ARTHUR SCHWENK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 2010

  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor an extraordinary servant 
leader and fellow Hoosier. My relationship with Reverend Arthur Schwenk 
dates back to my school boy days when I was a student in his German 
class, and I recognize his extraordinary achievements and work on 
behalf of German-American relations.
  Reverend Schwenk earned his Bachelor of Arts Education and Master of 
Arts degrees in German and psychology from Ball State University, and 
went on to teach in the public school system for 34 years. In 2005 he 
graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary with a Masters degree in 
theology and was ordained in 2006.
  Throughout his career, Reverend Schwenk was an active and engaged 
community leader, as well as citizen ambassador. Never one to sit on 
the sidelines, he was instrumental in creating a partnership between my 
hometown of Columbus, Indiana, and Lane, Germany, and he also helped 
Indiana counties learn about many facets of German culture. For over 
thirty five years, Reverend Schwenk organized and led both adult and 
student tour groups to Germany to learn from and engage in German 
culture.
  Clearly, Reverend Schwenk is passionate about, and dedicated to, 
helping fellow Hoosiers and Americans better understand and appreciate 
German-American relations. It is most fitting that he is being awarded 
the ``Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award,'' one of the 
highest awards bestowed upon an individual by the German government. 
This prestigious award honors Reverend Schwenk's desire to create 
mutual understanding and appreciation of his native Germany here in 
America. On behalf of hundreds of students, myself included, I thank 
Reverend Schwenk for his sacrifice in educating and encouraging 
continued understanding and respect for German-American relations.

                          ____________________