Meghan was born on February 1st, 1992 in Plano, Texas. She passed away, at the age of 29, on November 29th, 2021. An avid runner, she began experiencing chest pains in the fall of 2019. She was diagnosed with Thymic Carcinoma, an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer on March 16th, 2020. She battled her cancer with the same courage, grace, and positivity she lived her life.

Meghan graduated from Plano Senior High School in 2010. Music was a very important part of her life. She earned several honors playing piano and the french horn. Her dedication and leadership abilities led her to be chosen as a drum major for both Jasper High School and Plano Senior High School marching bands. After taking an Environmental Science class in high school, Meghan decided that was the field of study she wanted to pursue in college.

Wanting to attend college outside of Texas, Meghan attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in June 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management & Protection and a minor in Anthropology. At graduation, she was recognized as the Outstanding Environmental Professional of the Year by the Natural Resource Management & Environmental Science Department. She formed many lasting friendships while attending Cal Poly and referred to those friends as her, “Cal Poly family”. Many high school and college friends referred to Meghan as their “Moral Compass”.

After graduating from Cal Poly, Meghan moved to San Diego, where she worked as an Environmental Planner for AECOM, a global company that provides engineering, consulting, and project management services. She was a valued employee at AECOM for 7 years. She started as a Junior Environmental Planner and progressed to Senior Environmental Planner/Project Manager where she managed her own clients and projects. She was on AECOM’s Great Places to Work committee for most of those 7 years, was site captain for Coastal Cleanup Days, formed AECOM teams for annual breast cancer walks, and organized numerous in-office events, annual picnics and holiday parties.

While working full-time and managing her cancer treatment, she earned a Master of Science in Environmental Management from the University of Denver in June 2020. She was a member of the Association of Environmental Professionals and was most interested in sustainability and renewable energy.

Meghan’s hobbies included reading, running, traveling and watching movies (WALL-E, being her favorite). She also like to jot down various “pearls of wisdom” in her journal. One of her favorite quotes was, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things that you did do. Sail away from the safe harbor. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~Mark Twain.

Meghan lived a full and meaningful life in her 29 years. Her beautiful spirit will live on in those whose lives she touched and those she continues to help through the Meghan Haggblade Legacy Foundation.