The XVIth Regional Student Arts Week (Peksimida) at the Indonesian Cultural Arts Institute (ISBI) Aceh, ended on Thursday (27/6/2024). Malikussaleh University managed to win first place in four competitions. Apart from that, there were two competitions that won second place, and six competitions that won third place.
Chairman of the Malikussaleh University Contingent, Dr Hadi Iskandar, admitted that he was satisfied with the students' struggle even though a number of competitions targeted to win first place did not make it into the top three. "And this was beyond our expectations, because several competition participants performed with high standards but did not succeed in winning," said Hadi after following the announcement of the winners of all competitions at the ISBI Aceh campus in Jantho, Aceh Besar, Thursday afternoon.
According to him, the results at Peksimida 2024 will be evaluated thoroughly. Students representing Malikussaleh University as well as coaches will sit together to discuss achievements in the regional arts event. "Apart from that, what is also important is preparing participants who will represent Aceh in the national arena later," added the lecturer at the Faculty of Law.
The four Malikussaleh University students who became champions in Peksimida 2024 were Firah Dina Edisti from the Indonesian Language Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education for the short story writing competition, Sucie Maisyuri (Psychology Study Program, Faculty of Medicine) for writing poetry, Abdul Mukhlis (Electrical Engineering) for men's dangdut singing competition, and Ade Septya Khairanum Saragih (Agroecotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture) for the women's seriosa singing competition.
The four students will represent Aceh in the National Student Arts Week or Peksiminas at Jakarta State University, 2 - 7 September 2024. "Since the Peksimida selection on campus, I have reminded each participant that the target is to win at Peksiminas," added Hadi when asked about the target of the four Malikussaleh University students.
The two students who won second place in the 2024 Peksimida event were Sandy Afriza Ramadhan (Communication Science Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences) for the men's solo pop vocal competition, Cut Ghefira Sayyidina (Industrial Engineering) for the comic strip competition.
Meanwhile, the six competitors who won third place were Putri Amelia (Communication Science, FISIPOL) for the female dangdut solo vocal competition, Rijal Arrasyid (Communication Science) for the play writing competition, Fhadli Maulana (Information Engineering) for the journalistic photography competition, Muhammad Ramadhani for the souvenir craft competition, as well as Shania Ovili Anggreini (Architectural Engineering) for the painting competition.
Another competition which also won third place was a dance competition entitled "Rimueng Aceh" which told the story of the decreasing tiger population. The dance was performed by Mutiara Ramadhan (Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering), Tyas Friantika (Information Engineering), Nurul Alya (Management Study Program, Faculty of Economics), Cut Shaula Naira (Faculty of Law), and Mutiara Dara Fhonna from the Sharia Economics Study Program.
The success of winning first place, two second places and six third places, surpasses Peksimida's achievements in 2022 at Teuku Umur University, where Malikussaleh University only won one first place, namely in the play writing competition.
However, there were also voices of disappointment from coaches and students, as stated by the poetry reading coach, Dara Zubir. According to him, the participants in the poetry reading competition, both men and women, have performed optimally so they deserve to be awarded as champions. "But we don't know where the shortcomings are," said the artist who is also a journalist.
A number of coaches and students from other competition branches also conveyed similar things.
Separately, the Chancellor of Malikussaleh University, Prof. Dr. Herman Fithra Asean Eng, expressed his congratulations on the achievements that have been achieved. He reminded those who had won and would represent Aceh at the national event, to prepare themselves as best as possible.
“For those who haven't won, don't be sad. "If it is still possible, take part again in the next Peksimida by preparing yourself as best as possible," said the Chancellor in his written message.[]