Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) and alumni under the UGM Alumni Family (Kagama), successfully raised Rp2.3 billion in disaster relief donations to be distributed to flood victims in Sumatra. The fundraising was conducted alongside the Cultural Arts Performance and Alumni Night themed “A Healthy Campus, Pillar of National Independence and Resilience,” held on Saturday (Dec. 14) at GIK UGM.
The donation drive involved Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), Bank Mandiri, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), Bank Jatim, UGM alumni, and UGM-affiliated foundations.
The event also marked the awarding of several scholarships, including the Gadjah Mada Peduli Scholarship, Kagama Scholarship, Sahabat UGM Scholarship, and the BSI Scholarship.
UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia stated that the Alumni Night served as a platform for UGM and Kagama to contribute to assisting disaster victims in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
“This donation reflects the tangible commitment of Kagama and UGM to supporting disaster victims while also providing educational support and opportunities for younger generations to grow and contribute to the nation,” she said.
On the same occasion, the rector noted that UGM currently has 410,128 alumni. Ahead of the university’s anniversary celebrations, alumni are consistently invited to return to campus to strengthen their connection with their alma mater by fostering the values of guyub (togetherness), rukun (harmony), and migunani (usefulness).
“Alumni are strategic partners. I extend my gratitude to all alumni who have strengthened the implementation of the tri-dharma over the years. The university would not thrive without the support of its alumni,” Professor Emilia remarked.
Meanwhile, the cultural performance titled Nafas Bangsa (The Breath of the Nation) combined drama, contemporary and traditional dance, a choir, a band, and orchestral music, performed by students from the UGM Dance Student Activity Unit, UGM Student Choir (PSM UGM), Gama Band, and GMCO.
The performance conveyed the importance of individual well-being, physically, mentally, and socially, cultivated in the campus environment. Through its narrative, the show vividly portrayed the nation’s journey from dependence toward resilience, beginning with individuals and their immediate surroundings, namely students, who will eventually become alumni.
One highlight of the performance was a special appearance by university leaders who sang the song “Tanah Airku,” accompanied by an orchestral ensemble. The performance featured UGM Rector Ova Emilia, UGM Vice Rector Wening Udasmoro, and Kagama Executive Chair Budi Karya Sumadi.
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Salma
Photographer: Firsto Adi