New Law Grants Honorary High School Diplomas to Minnesota Veterans

Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) attends the Stars and Stripes parade at the Fergus Falls Veterans Home on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs)

St. Paul, MN – On Wednesday, Governor Tim Walz signed House File 4492 into law, which includes a key provision allowing eligible Vietnam War and Korean Conflict veterans to receive honorary high school diplomas from Minnesota school districts and charter schools.

Under the new law, school districts and charter schools must issue diplomas upon request to eligible veterans who are current Minnesota residents or former Minnesota students. Family members may also request diplomas posthumously on behalf of deceased veterans. The diplomas are awarded in recognition of the “experience gained while in service, or the veteran’s other relevant lived experience.”

“This legislation recognizes the sacrifices made by veterans who put their education on hold to answer the call to serve our country,” said Ryan Veralrud, a local veteran and advocate. “For many veterans and their families, receiving a diploma is a meaningful acknowledgment of both their military service and the opportunities they gave up in defense of our nation.”

Sen. Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) was inspired to author the law after a visit to the Fergus Falls Veterans Home. “The legislation grew out of conversations at the Fergus Falls Veterans Home,” said Rasmusson. “After a wonderful community event, a couple of residents came over to speak with me and asked whether there would ever be an opportunity for them to receive their high school diploma. They had answered the call of duty and left school behind to serve our country during the Vietnam War.”

Those conversations prompted Rasmusson to research similar efforts in other states, discovering that many already recognize veterans whose education was interrupted by military service.

“With this law, Minnesota joins other states in recognizing the sacrifices these veterans made,” Rasmusson said. “These men and women defended our country during times of conflict. They deserve to be recognized not only for their military service, but also for the education they gave up in order to serve.”

Story courtesy of Senator Rasmusson’s Office.