The Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) held its First Graduation Confirmation Ceremony (Yudisium) of 2026, celebrating the achievements of 292 graduates in a solemn and inspiring event on Friday, June 19, at the UMSU Auditorium on Jalan Muchtar Basri No. 3, Medan.
A total of 292 students officially graduated from seven study programs, comprising four graduates from Mathematics Education, 20 from Indonesian Language Education, 28 from English Language Education, 12 from Pancasila and Civic Education, two from Accounting Education, 51 from Guidance and Counseling, and 175 from Elementary School Teacher Education (PGSD).
In his keynote address, UMSU Vice Rector I, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin Gultom, S.H., M.Hum., emphasized the importance of competence, integrity, and perseverance as graduates prepare to meet the challenges of the future.
“Every teacher and educator is expected to possess four essential competencies: pedagogical competence, personal integrity, professional competence, and social competence,” he said.
He encouraged the graduates to become professional educators with strong integrity and a lifelong commitment to nurturing future generations.
“Do not give up after experiencing failure. Success requires continuous effort, perseverance, and unwavering commitment. With consistency, you will achieve your goals in the future,” he advised.
Meanwhile, Dean of FKIP UMSU, Dra. Hj. Syamsuyurnita, M.Pd., congratulated the graduates for their dedication and perseverance in completing their academic journey.
“May this degree become more than a formal qualification. May it serve as a foundation for applying the knowledge you have gained for the benefit of yourselves, your families, your communities, the nation, and your faith,” she said.
Representing the graduating class, Nuraini Rusid Panggabean shared the emotional realities many students experienced during their years at university.
“Some of us struggled simply to survive. There were days when we went without food because financial support from our families back home had not yet arrived,” she recalled.
She also emphasized the importance of balancing academic excellence with organizational involvement.
“Academics provide us with a strong intellectual foundation, while student organizations teach leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills,” she said.
The ceremony also featured Ikhwanul Ismar, a distinguished FKIP UMSU alumnus who now serves as a member of Commission III of the Deli Serdang Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). He encouraged graduates to broaden their career aspirations, emphasizing that FKIP alumni are capable of succeeding in a wide range of professions.
“FKIP UMSU was not established solely to produce teachers or school principals. Its graduates are capable of achieving far beyond those roles,” he stated.
FKIP UMSU also honored the top graduates from each study program. They included Natasha Putri Aulia (Indonesian Language Education) with a GPA of 3.93, Angeli Wulandari (English Language Education) with 3.91, Nazwa (Guidance and Counseling) with 3.90, Nuraini Rusid Panggabean (Pancasila and Civic Education) with 3.92, and Sabila Rahmatika Siregar (Elementary School Teacher Education/PGSD) with an outstanding GPA of 3.97.
The event concluded with a thought-provoking monologue entitled “A Degree on Your Head, But Where Is the Knowledge?” The performance reminded graduates that academic titles alone are not enough unless they are accompanied by humility, wisdom, and meaningful contributions to society.
Among those in attendance were the Chairman of the UMSU Board of Trustees (BPH), Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.AP., the vice deans, heads of study programs, faculty members, and the participants of the graduation confirmation ceremony.
