Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) continues to shine on the national stage, with another student earning prestigious recognition.
This time, Elsa Firlyani, a Property Management and Appraisal student at UGM’s Vocational College (SV UGM), received the Special Award for Disability Advocacy in the Diploma Program category at the National Selection for Outstanding Students (Pilmapres) 2024. The event was held at Gorontalo State University from Jul. 24–28.
Elsa, as she is affectionately known, was selected to represent UGM and Yogyakarta in this prestigious event after passing a rigorous selection process at both the university and regional levels.
A student from the 2021 cohort, Elsa expressed great pride in being able to bring honor to UGM on the national stage.
She was initially drawn to participate in the selection out of curiosity and a desire to share her knowledge about the outstanding student selection process (Mapres). Additionally, Elsa was motivated by her drive to advance and develop herself.
“I see the Mapres competition as an opportunity to maximize my potential because it guides participants to better understand themselves and their vision,” she explained.
Elsa’s journey to this achievement was not easy. She began by participating in the selection process at the Vocational College level, where she became one of the representatives for the university-wide selection.
At this stage, Elsa secured 1st place in the Diploma category, earning her the right to represent UGM at the regional level. Her efforts paid off when she won 3rd place in the Diploma category for Yogyakarta.
The next step was the national preliminary selection. Interestingly, despite finishing 3rd in the previous round, Elsa was chosen as one of Yogyakarta’s two representatives at the national level, where the competition became even more intense.
At the national selection, the judges evaluated several elements, including outstanding achievements, which are a combination of various accomplishments such as competition wins, leadership roles, or academic publications.
As a diploma representative, Elsa had to present an innovative product.
“The innovative product I presented was a game that teaches financial management to teenagers,” she explained.
Elsa developed a board game in which each card contains financial management education. Players roll dice and move according to the spaces on the board. On each space, they receive a card with options for managing their finances.
“For example, when a player decides to buy stocks, the game reminds them to invest only with surplus funds. So, in addition to teaching financial management, this game also helps with emotional management,” she elaborated.
With her game, named Prosperify, Elsa advanced to the national level. Branding herself as an economic storyteller, she presented her ideas and products to the judges. However, the judges also noticed something else in Elsa’s presentation—her dedication to supporting her friends with disabilities.
While at UGM, Elsa actively participated in activities to assist students with disabilities. She even learned sign language and developed a close friendship with Kak Lia, a hard-of-hearing friend who taught her sign language. They often collaborated on projects together.
Elsa is also a member of the Peduli Difabel Student Activity Unit, a student organization that actively supports students with disabilities. Drawing from her experiences, Elsa advocated for the importance of awareness and support for people with disabilities.
“It starts with changing our mindset about people with disabilities. We often see them being made the subject of jokes in everyday settings. Secondly, we need to improve communication with them by learning sign language. Lastly, infrastructure must be designed to accommodate their needs, like how UGM is adding wheelchair ramps in its buildings,” she explained regarding her commitment to disability advocacy.
Receiving the Disability Advocacy Award is both an honor and a challenge for Elsa. The student, who is also active in archery, views the award as a responsibility she must uphold to the best of her ability.
She also emphasized that this recognition motivates her to be even more active and closer to her friends with disabilities. With this responsibility, Elsa is determined to continue fighting to ensure that people with disabilities are no longer marginalized.
Participating in the 2024 Pilmapres was a true test of Elsa’s perseverance. The lengthy process tested her determination to compete.
Elsa shared, “Pilmapres is an event that tests perseverance because the process is long, and you meet many fellow students and judges who provide new insights. However, the biggest challenge is yourself—how you handle challenges, think critically, and accept feedback. I had to stay persistent and consistent.”
At one point, Elsa felt her motivation waning, but she reminded herself that her reason for participating in Pilmapres was not just to win a title. Now in her seventh semester, she believes her purpose is bigger than any title—to benefit all. Additionally, the support from UGM was invaluable.
“Lecturers, staff, Kommapres, and interns gave me 1,000% effort and encouragement. The UGM ecosystem is very supportive, even more than my motivation,” Elsa recalled, reflecting on those who have supported her throughout this journey.
Now that she has earned the title, Elsa advises fellow students aspiring to participate in the outstanding student selection to prepare early. However, the student who previously won 1st place in the CSA Equity Research Competition emphasized that Mapres is not the only way to succeed.
“Mapres is just one way to maximize potential. Not becoming a Mapres doesn’t mean you’re not successful or impressive. There are many ways to achieve success during your studies,” Elsa said.
Author: Lazuardi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson