UMS Student Wins Wonogiri Outstanding Youth Award and Scholarship

Ajeng Adela Selandani, a Physiotherapy student at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIK), Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), has once again achieved an impressive milestone. The student from Wonogiri was awarded the Wonogiri Regency Outstanding Youth title and received an education scholarship worth Rp12 million from the Wonogiri Regency Government.

The award was officially presented on Thursday (27/11/2025), attended by the Regent of Wonogiri and local government officials. The scholarship is granted to outstanding students as a form of appreciation as well as support for sustaining the education of young people.

“Alhamdulillah, this is very helpful in easing my parents’ financial burden. Tuition fees and living expenses during my studies are certainly not small,” she said during an interview on Monday (1/12/2025).

The 7th-semester student said she has received the same award for four consecutive years since 2022. She qualified in the advanced category for her active contributions to the Wonogiri community through the Wonogiri Outstanding Students Association (IMAPRES).

After receiving the scholarship, awardees are guided under the IMAPRES organization and are required to contribute for a full year through work programs in their respective sub-districts.

“We contribute through quarterly programs, starting from health education campaigns, education outreach, scholarship information, to assisting MSMEs in registering for the Business Identification Number (NIB),” she explained.

Ajeng Adela Selandani during a session where she served as a speaker at an event organized by the Pracimantoro Sub-district Outstanding Students Association (IMAPRES).

She added that each activity is evaluated and becomes a key component in the selection process for the continuation scholarship in the following year. The system is designed to ensure students remain active and maintain concern for their home region.

Through these programs, IMAPRES collaborates with various partners, including sub-district governments, posyandu, schools, and PKK, to help improve the quality of life in partner villages. “We are also involved in programs held by the local government. These collaborations have been an invaluable experience,” she said.

Furthermore, she expressed her hope that scholarship recipients will not only achieve personal success, but will also return and contribute to the development of their hometown. This message aligns with the mandate conveyed by the Regent of Wonogiri to participants attending the award ceremony.

“The Regent reminded us that even if we later leave home to pursue our studies, we must not forget to return and help develop our region. Our success is expected to make a meaningful impact on the people of Wonogiri,” she said.

The Wonogiri Outstanding Youth Scholarship is awarded in two categories: new recipients and continuing recipients. New applicants undergo document screening and an innovation project assessment, while continuing recipients follow a similar process with the addition of evaluations based on their one-year contributions, interviews, and knowledge tests related to Wonogiri and IMAPRES.

“This scholarship is not distributed monthly, but given in a single disbursement. The use of the funds must also be reported according to the proposal submitted,” she noted.

At the end of the interview, she emphasized that the recognition has motivated her to continue improving her academic performance and to keep contributing to society. What makes it even more special is that she has been exempted from her bachelor’s thesis requirement under the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) scheme after successfully publishing an article in a Scopus-indexed journal.

“InsyaAllah, I also plan to pursue further studies. I hope this award can serve as valuable capital for preparing my next level of education,” she concluded.

Writer: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid