SLEMAN - Unlike other colleagues, after graduating from high school Eko Hardiyanto just chose to work directly. Eko, who was just 18 years old, ventured to work at a bauxite mining company in Maluku. Being far from the family did not dampen his determination to gain experience abroad.

"At first I was an apprentice in Kalimantan, then after graduating from high school I worked in Maluku. The salary resulted from my work is for college," he told the Info Campus, Saturday (14/10/2017).

After two years of working as a supervisor at PT Antam, he returned to his hometown and realized his dream of going to college. UPNVY becomes the ideal campus for continuing education.

"I always wanted to go to college here because the mining technique is good," he said

As the famed result will not betray the process, Eko Hardiyanto became one of the best graduates of the Strata 1 Program at the Graduation of National Development University "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY) Period 1 FY 2017/2018 with GPA of 3.53.

Born in Sleman, 4 April 1993, he is a graduate of the Mining Engineering S1 Program, Faculty of Mineral Technology, with a study period of 4 years 1 month. Eko attended the graduation ceremony with 634 other graduates, held on Saturday (14/10/2017) at Auditorium WR Supratman Building, UPN Condong Catur Campus.

In addition to obtaining the cumlaude GPA, Eko, who now officially holds a Bachelor of Engineering (S.T) also got the first rank awarded by Cendekia Karya along with 9 other graduates. Scholar's work was given to students who not only had academic achievements and graduated in a short time, but also performed at various competitions, active in organizational and social activities. He earned savings from UPNVY from this award.

The first child of Daryono and Vini Vidayanti has various experiences of being an Assistant and author in the Journal of Envirinmental Science and Engineering.

He is also noted to be active and champion in various competitions, namely Winner of Mine Surveying at 7th Yogya Mining Competition 2015; Winner of Hand Steeling and Mine Surveying at 10th Indonesian Students Mining Competition (ISMC) 2016 at ITB; Champion I Panning, Joint Measuring, Rock and Mineral Identification at YMCC 2016 at UPNVY; Second Winner Tie In, Crushing and Grinding, Swede Sawing at ISMC 10th Year 2016 at ITB.

Eko told the most memorable event when participating in the contest at the event Indonesian Students Mining Competition (ISMC) 10th year 2016 in ITB. Many students from representatives of the State in ASEAN and Australia joined the Competition Hand Steeling and Mine Surveying at that time.

"This is a regional mining competition and we made it to the third overall champion after 11 years of championship vacuum. This is the most proud thing in my opinion," his story on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony.

In addition to being a champion in various competitions, SMKN 2 Depok graduates are also active in the organization. He became one of the HMPS Mining Engineering and Management Board of Islamic SMEs-Nurul Ilmi.

Eko planed to immediately find a job with a provision of diploma and experience. He admitted after the graduation ceremony took place, he would attend a job interview. He hoped to be hired by one of the national mining companies. (wwj / humas)