In the beginning of the 2018/2019 academic year, Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) Lippo Village inaugurates around 544 students taking part in student-led organizations in UPH on July 11, 2018, in the Grand Chapel of UPH Lippo Village. The leaders of 7 student-led organizations are inaugurated in this commemoration – Spiritual Growth, Mentoring, Majelis Perwakilan Mahasiswa (MPM), Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa (BEM), Study Program Student Councils, Service Learing Community, and Student Activity Units.

The Rector, Dr. (Hon) Jonathan L. Parapak, M.Eng.Sc., inaugurates all students, and the procession is witnessed by UPH staffs and lecturers. The Rector then gave a speech on keeping the students’ commitment in serving the organizations entrusted to each one of them. He also reminded the students of the synergy between student-led organizations in UPH campuses in Surabaya and Medan, all standing together as ONE UPH.

“This is a day to remember. Each one of you has been chosen by God to lead for one year in ONE UPH (UPH Lippo Village, Surabaya, and Medan). Starting from now, we must proclaim that ‘We are ONE UPH’. All student-led organizations should thus address themselves as an organization under ONE UPH. You are the people chosen among hundreds of other students – chosen and sent by God to execute a serious task,” the Rector expressed, addressing the students.

This inauguration is hoped to instill the understanding that UPH has built a strong synergy between UPH Lippo Village, Surabaya, and Medan. This means that the programs held should be integrated with one another. The student-led organizations in UPH Lippo Village should be a role model for the Surabaya and Medan campuses, so that all UPH student-led organizations can be a safe place where students can grow towards becoming future leaders and agents of change.

The Rector then shared wisdom through the story of Joshua in the Bible to strengthen the commitment of the new leaders of UPH student-led organizations. He emphasized that a leader should have a conviction that the task he is entrusted with is God’s calling, and that they should know their goals while in leadership. They have to believe that God is always with them and not become afraid or shaken. As servants of God, these are the characters the leaders should have to represent the vision of UPH to the entire student body.

In addition to the inauguration, participants also spent time to ceremonially appreciate the 2017/2018 organization leaders that have finished their tasks well. This ceremonious acknowledgement as well as the inauguration of the leaders of Spiritual Growth, Mentoring, and MPM, is administered by the Rector along with Dr. Curtis J. Taylor, Vice Rector in Student Affairs. The appreciation and inauguration ceremony of BEM is done by the 2017/2018 President and Vice President of BEM. The leaders of Study Program Student Councils are inaugurated by the Dean of the Faculty or his representative. Dr. Curtis J. Taylor, along with the Director of Student Life Andry M. Panjaitan, M.T., administered the appreciation and inauguration of Service Learning Community and Student Activity Units.

At the end of the ceremony, the new leaders together recite the Student-Led Organization Leaders Promise. We hope that all the new leaders can commit to their responsibilities and give their best in all that they do. (mt)

Testimonials

Fransiska Elisabet, Head Mentor 2017/2018
“This is not the end of our journey. No matter where we will go and what we will become, we can always be a family that supports each other. We can always serve together and become leaders, no matter our position. Being a leader is not about a title – it is about how we can influence others.”

Yosua Yeremia, BEM President, 2018/2019
“Today marks a special moment for me and my fellow readers. Today, the ministry has been handed down to us. As leaders, there are three things that we must possess. First, we must have the courage to face challenges and problems and then looking for a way to solve the problem and turn it into an advantage. Second, we have to have an endurance to finish our task and to have the right motivation coming into this ministry. Third., we should understand our vision – the goal that we want to achieve. Simply put, we should have courage and endurance so that we can together execute this vision we bear together.”