Cody Wayne Minyard, 20, of Henryetta had the opportunity to intern for United States Senator Al Franken (D–MN) this summer in Washington D.C.

Minyard, the son of Terry and Debbie Minyard, was taking classes at George Washington University through the Native American Political Leadership Program.
During his internship, Minyard attended multiple Senate hearings regarding Indian Gaming, the Global Impact of a Greek Default, and the White House Generation Indigenous Initiative, each of which required him to write a general summary over each meeting for the Senator’s staff.

Minyard also wrote a Policy Memo concerning “Safeguarding Indian Gaming,” which Senator Franken used in an official Senate Indian Affairs Hearing. 

While an intern, Minyard attended speeches given by Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama. He personally met Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Congressman Ben Ray Lujan (D–NM), Congressman Tom Cole (R–OK), and Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R–OK). 

Minyard is currently a student at the University of Oklahoma where he is a Senior studying Political Science with a concentration in Elections and Campaign Management and is a student in the OU Honors College. 
Upon graduation, he hopes to attend law school in the D.C. area.
He is grandson to Tony and Christine Minyard, Billy and Joyce Patrick, and Nolan Osban all of Henryetta. He is also a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation.