JAKARTA - Campus ambassador is not a place to seek popularity, but a place where talent, character, and integrity meet. The process is far from instant. Those who are selected must go through a strict selection stage, ranging from in-depth interviews, intensive training, to self-development in various aspects such as leadership, communication, and social services.
One of the universities that organizes it is Pelita Harapan University (UPH). This program goes far beyond just a prestigious selection. Behind the stage, there is a long process that prepares finalists to become representative individuals, bringing the values of faith, knowledge, and character to the public sphere. A mission that makes the title of Ambassador is not just a symbol, but a mandate.
This year, ten UPH finalists looked stunning representing five different faculties. They have gone through a series of trainings ranging from public speaking, leadership, ethics, to understanding cultural and institutional values. All culminated in the night of the Grand Final which became a reflective space, as well as a place for maturity.
This event was assessed by three inspirational figures, namely Dr. Andry M. Panjaitan, ST, MT, CPHCM., as Associate Vice President of Student Development, Sarah Sentoso as Puteri Indonesia DKI Jakarta 3 in 2025, and Aure Sangari, Director of Marketing UPH. All three were present not only as judges, but also as assessors of the characters and leadership potential of the finalists.
Kelly Alessandra Sugianto, student management of the 2024 class, succeeded as the main winner. Followed by Sharen Aurelia Gunawan (International Relations, 2024) as second place winner, and Joan Angelina Jingga (Communication Science, 2024) in third place. The three, along with seven other finalists, will play the role of campus ambassador for the next one year.
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"We are grateful that ten years this program has been running. This is not just a place to look for the best of the best. All finalists are representatives. Let you be bright and grateful, both in the campus environment and in the wider community," said Dr. Eric Jobiliong, Vice President of Academics, Research, and Innovation UPH, from UPH's official statement.
Kireina Hikkari, last year's ambassador representative and committee chairman, also conveyed a encouraging message.
"Your journey has just begun. Use this container not to shine alone, but to be a blessing to many people," he said.
Kelly during his service as Ambassador, has designed a project titled Ignite. This project was born from his concern about the digital world which is so fast but often shallow. He wants to create a space where students can think critically, work through art and technology, and keep based on the values of kindness.
"Ignite will be a place of idea, where students can explore through content, art, and community. I hope that through this project, my fellow finalists and I can encourage change, not only more productive, but also more aware of their respective life calls," Kelly said excitedly.
He also introduced More, Better, Different, Let Go (MBDL) approach as a philosophy to encourage students to dare to try new things, think outside of old patterns, and be ready to face the challenges of the times.
Sarah Sentoso, one of the judges that night, praised Kelly's performance. "He knows exactly what he wants to convey and manages to convey it sincerely, clearly, and inspiringly. The three winners this year are not only ready to represent the campus representatively, but also have great potential to be the driving force," he said.
In line with that, Dr. Andry Panjaitan added that an ambassador is not only the face of the institution, but also the embodiment of character and integrity.
"They not only represent symbolically, but reflect students who actually, know, have integrity, and are ready to have an impact," he said.
In addition to the top three, the final night also gave a special award:
- Best Speech won by Jessica Karen Christabella Silaen (IPS Education, 2023)- Best Content given to Joan Angelina Jingga (Communication Science, 2024)- Favorite Most won by Christopher Total Tjiptawidjaja (International Relations, 2024)
The event was also enlivened by the presence of a finalist family, national corporate partners, as well as a number of representatives from well-known schools and universities. There were also several public figures, including Putri Indonesia Gorontalo 2024 who provided direct support.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
