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For Peter Menghesha, his commitment to a life of service is deeply personal. When his mother suffered a health emergency, rocking his family emotionally and financially, it was through community that his family found strength and fellowship, making their hard journey bearable. When his mother recovered, she credited the community support she and her family received for her resilience. Peter made it his mission to give back to this same Ethiopian-Eritrean community that had supported his family. 

“I have witnessed first-hand the power of community support and the transformative impact it can have on individuals’ lives,” he says.

One of Peter’s first initiatives was co-founding the Pursuit to Wholeness, where he currently serves as co-director. This initiative, based within the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Edmonton, highlights a range of opportunities for youth to holistically develop as well-rounded scholars, guiding them, hopefully, toward post-secondary education or career paths they hadn’t previously considered. Over the last three years, the initiative has held events with turnouts of over one hundred participants, with panel discussions and career fairs spotlighting various professions.

Beyond mentorship and other advocacy initiatives, sports is another way Peter fosters community. Acknowledging financial barriers in sports, he led efforts to secure a total of $7,000 in grant funding to support Edmonton youth.

“I believe in the power of sports to build relationships and create opportunities,” he says. “This initiative provides more than just an opportunity to play soccer — it fosters friendships, encourages physical wellness and even helps players build professional networks that lead to job opportunities.”

Seeking opportunities to bolster his community service, Peter has recently completed the Empowering Leadership in Youth Through Community Action Program, a initiative designed to foster leadership skills in young people through community-based projects. 

It’s that same altruistic, community-building spirit that motivates and fuels Peter’s mechanical engineering path — as a student and as a humanitarian.

“Engineering is where these facets of my identity — community, innovation and entrepreneurship — intersect,” he says, adding that he is planning on using his engineering education and experience to build solutions to global issues. 

Whether through personal acts, or engineering breakthroughs, Peter’s mission is clear — he is committed to finding ways to make the world a better place for all.

“For me, being an active citizen is not just about giving back — it’s about creating sustainable change and ensuring that no one feels alone in their struggles. The support my family received changed our lives, and through my ongoing efforts, I hope to continue making a lasting impact on the lives of others.”

Named in honour of the Faculty of Engineering’s founding professor, the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award recognizes Engineering at ß÷ßäÉçÇø undergraduate students who have made exceptional contributions to society. It’s a celebration of citizenship and of engineering students who go to extraordinary lengths to make our world a better place. Special thanks to the David Morris Family Foundation for supporting our students and making the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Awards possible. 

Do you know an undergraduate student whose volunteerism, contributions, and efforts, both on-campus and off-campus, work to make the world a better place? Learn more about the nomination process »