Oh brother! Engineering talent runs in the family

Imperial is a proud supporter of the University of Alberta’s ELITE Program for Black Youth.
The partnership helps Imperial attract top talent and foster a sense of belonging at the Strathcona Refinery.
Brothers Daniel and Peter Menghesha are among the first ELITE Program interns at Strathcona – and what a journey they’re on.

Article

3 min read

• May 26, 2026

They may be brothers, but Daniel and Peter Menghesha are also becoming something else together –rising engineering leaders with bright futures in Alberta’s energy industry.

The pair are proving that when it comes to success in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), it really can “run in the family.”

Through the University of Alberta’s Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (ELITE) Program for Black Youth as well as internship opportunities with Imperial at the Strathcona Refinery, the brothers are turning shared ambition into real-world engineering experience — one calculation and mentorship conversation at a time.

Daniel, 22, is entering the final semester of his mechanical engineering degree at the University of Alberta. His journey with Imperial began in 2025 through an ELITE Program internship placement at Strathcona as part of the University of Alberta’s Co-op Program. Originally hired for a four-month internship, his strong performance earned him a four-month extension.

Peter, 20, participated in research opportunities through the ELITE Program beginning in Grade 11. His experiences with the program helped shape his career ambitions and eventually led him toward engineering. His accomplishments already include co-authoring a research paper while still in high school, presenting it at an international conference, and earning one of Canada’s largest undergraduate scholarships, valued at $120,000.

Peter recently completed his third year of mechanical engineering and, following closely in his brother’s footsteps, has started an internship at Strathcona.

“Daniel told me great things about his time with Imperial,” Peter says. “And that’s what made me want to apply for this internship.”

ELITE opportunities

For both brothers, the ELITE Program paved the way to things that may not otherwise have been available so early in their careers. The ELITE Program was founded to create hands-on job opportunities for Black youth between the ages of 15 and 22 in STEM fields.

“It gets your foot in the door,” Daniel explains. “It opens your eyes at an earlier stage than most people get the opportunity to.”

At the refinery, the brothers have experienced engineering beyond the classroom. Daniel described the satisfaction of balancing office-based technical work with time spent in the field, conducting inspections, gathering information, and completing engineering reports tied to real operational challenges.

Daniel and Peter both say they have been impressed by Imperial’s strong safety culture as well as the professionalism and respect of employees throughout the facility.

Mentorship has also played a critical role in their development. The brothers credit mentors through both the ELITE Program and Imperial for helping guide their academic and professional journeys, including University of Alberta professor Andre McDonald and Imperial Operations Support Department Leader David Akande.

Today, the brothers are already giving back by volunteering with non-profit tutoring programs that encourage younger students to pursue STEM education.

“We hope students can look at our journey and feel inspired,” Peter says.