News Room

SAINT PAUL – On May 7, 2026, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon presented the NASS Medallion Award to The Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, recognizing the Guard’s exceptional support of deployed service members’ access to voting.

Over the past several years, the Minnesota National Guard has expanded its partnership with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State to better support service members. During this time, election officials have worked directly with Voter Assistance Officers to ensure service members have timely and accurate information while deployed.

Since December 2023, officials from the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State have also attended nearly every Beyond the Yellow Ribbon event in person to speak directly with service members as they prepare for their deployments.

"Mobilized National Guard members have many competing demands for their time before being deployed and preparing to vote can reasonably fall off their to-do list,” said Secretary Simon. “We are deeply grateful for the Minnesota National Guard’s partnership in allowing our team to bring information directly to service members to ensure they can participate in our democracy while serving our country. This award honors the Guard’s steadfast commitment to their members.”

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award and grateful for Secretary Simon’s continued efforts to educate and expand voting access for our military members,” said Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Minnesota National Guard’s Adjutant General. “We emphasize the importance of voting because it is both a fundamental right and a responsibility we proudly uphold.”

The award presentation also included senior leaders from the Minnesota National Guard and the Department of Military Affairs, including Scott Rohweder, Executive Director of the Department of Military Affairs, and Col. Kristen Augé, Director of Strategic Communications.

PHOTO: Secretary Simon and The Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke

About the Minnesota National Guard

Established in 1856 and headquartered in St. Paul, the Minnesota National Guard has nearly 13,000 citizen Soldiers and Airmen living in more than 800 communities across Minnesota. The citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the Minnesota National Guard are ‘Always Ready’ to fight the nation’s wars, protect the country, respond to state emergencies, and contribute to local communities. For more information about the Minnesota National Guard, visit https://mn.gov/mnng/. 

About the NASS Medallion Award

The NASS Medallion Award was created to honor individuals, groups, or organizations with an established record of promoting the goals of NASS in one or more of the following areas:

• Elections, with special emphasis on voter education and participation
• Civic education, including the teaching, promotion, and study of this subject
• Service to state government, specifically as it relates to the duties of the office of the Secretary of State
• A commitment to giving – a business or individual whose philanthropic contributions have significantly enhanced the quality of life in a local or regional area within a state, or within an entire state

Award recipients should reflect the mission, purposes, and objectives of NASS as outlined in the NASS Constitution, Bylaws, and other relevant NASS policies. They should also promote the same dignity, ideals, and stature that NASS has come to represent over the years.