Photo courtesy of Bay College Outstanding Graduate for the Arts and Letters Division Meneo Aird has been selected to deliver the student commencement address at Bay College’s graduation Saturday.

ESCANABA & IRON MOUNTAIN, MI – Bay College announced that Meneo Aird has been selected to deliver the College’s 2025 student commencement address on Saturday. Meneo returned to his hometown of Gladstone three years ago after spending 25 years living in major cities. His goal was to reconnect with family and pursue a degree at Bay College. Last winter, he earned his Associate of Arts and is now working toward a Bachelor of Science at Northern Michigan University.

He has chosen English as his major, with a concentration in multimedia journalism. To support his goal of becoming a wildlife and environmental journalist, he also studies wildlife biology, earth sciences, and Native American studies.

“After two previous attempts, I had succumbed to the thought that I would never get a college degree. However, all my self-deprecating thoughts were laid to rest once I started at Bay. I finally found the support and encouragement I needed to succeed. Was it hard? Yes, of course it was. I had to push myself and keep my eyes on the prize. I had teachers who would not let me give up or simply coast through. They motivated me, they challenged me to dig deep, and they showed me how to find my true potential.”

In his spare time, Meneo can often be found wandering the forest with his English bulldog, Xena Marie. A two-time AmeriCorps alum, he is deeply committed to volunteerism, activism, and social justice. After earning his degree, he plans to focus his writing on the environmental injustices that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

Photo Caption: Outstanding Graduate for the Arts and Letters Division Meneo Aird has been selected to deliver the student commencement address at Bay College’s 2025 graduation ceremony.