A total of 10,678 new students of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) created various celebratory formations during the closing ceremony of PIONIR Gadjah Mada 2024 on Saturday (Aug. 3) at Pancasila Field.
Using four colored papers on their heads, the students flipped them to form various shapes, such as the “steps of progress” image, the UGM gate, the UGM mosque gate, and the “collaboration of Indonesia’s excellent generation” text.
The formations conveyed messages about the steps and the beginning of the new UGM students, known as Gamada, in achieving the nation’s noble values, becoming initiators of unity, and broadening their knowledge.
Through the inspirational efforts of the Gamada, it is hoped that UGM will serve as the gateway to the nation’s glory by building a superior generation of Indonesians.
As has been the tradition since 2012, the formation celebration moment conducted by new students during the closing ceremony of UGM’s PIONIR is highly anticipated.
The new students involved in creating the formation were unaware of the final shape they would make. They only knew to flip the colored papers on their heads according to the committee’s instructions.
The entire committee felt a sense of emotion once the formation celebration was completed.
Audy, one of the co-facilitators of PIONIR Gadjah Mada 2024, who had been accompanying the new students throughout the event, said, “I am touched, happy, and proud of the Gamada who quickly and accurately understood the mechanism of the celebration.”
The new students also shared their feelings about the formation celebration.
“I am thrilled, even though it was tiring. Seeing the formation was very touching,” said Quenna, a new student from the Biology program.
Afa, a new student from the Economics program, expressed similar feelings.
“I was a bit nervous because I feared making mistakes during the formation. But I felt relieved once it was over and I saw the formation. I was surprised at how beautiful it looked,” he said.
Kemal, the Event Coordinator of PIONIR Gadjah Mada 2024, revealed that this year’s theme for the formation celebration represents the first page in the PIONIR Gadjah Mada book, transforming from the previous name PPSMB Universitas Gadjah Mada.
“The theme is representative of the initial visualization presented in the formation celebration. We hope this first page serves as the starting point for Gamada in their academic journey at UGM,” he said.
He added that preparing the idea for this celebration took about five months, initially using Big Data formation assistance. He admitted to being very nervous and anxious during the formation, which he executed without prior practice, only during the campus orientation closing.
“Thanks to the cooperation and determination of the entire committee, the formation was successfully carried out,” Kemal proudly stated.
Kemal, representing the entire PIONIR Gadjah Mada 2024 committee, hopes the new students can have memorable experiences throughout the PIONIR activities.
“I hope the new students will enthusiastically approach their academic journey,” he concluded.
Author: Lintang
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif