SLEMAN – Being arised from poor families does not make Tri Wahyuningsih discouraged to get a decent education. Precisely, this limitations led Tri Wahyuningsih to be the recipient of Karya Cendikia of Universitas Pembangunan Nasional "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY) at the Graduation Ceremony of the 4th  Graduate Diploma Program Academic Year of  2017/2018, Saturday (14/7/2018). Karya Cendekia is an award given to students who are the best graduates. This award is given by considering the academic achievement, length of study, achievement off-campus, and being active in organizational and social activities. The awarding has been going on for about 18 years and is given to students in every graduation period.

Encountered on the sidelines of graduation, this 22-year-old girl told her struggle. Ayu, Tri Wahyuningsih familiar greeting, was an outstanding basketball athlete since in junior high school. For this achievement, she got a scholarship to continue her study to SMA 1 PSKD (Djakarta Christian School Club) Jakarta.

She lived in a school dormitory for three years and hoped that she could continue her studies. However, her intention to continue the study failed because his father forbade her.

"Being forbidden made me be down, because my parents wanted me to work first so that I myself could pay for the college tuition fee. They were afraid of going to college would pay this and that things which are expensive, " she said.

Born in Gunung Kidul, April 2, 1996, she said that to raise and pay for hers sister’s school fee, her father named Sriono, relied solely on the money of selling chicken noodles. Her mother worked as a boarding keeper to help the family economy. For 18 years, Ayu and his family have occupied a rented house lent by the boarding house owner.

Her high ideals to advance college encouraged Ayu to find a way to get a scholarship. Having information got from the internet, Ayu enrolled UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY) in Geology Engineering Department as her first choice and Management for the second choice. In 2014, Ayu officially became one of UPNVY Management Study Program students with financing bidikmisi program.

Despite getting a scholarship, Ayu still has part-time work as a marketing staff in one office in Yogyakarta for two semesters. The money she earned was being used to buy college needs. However, along with the increasing number of college assignments, she stopped working and focused on the study.

Ayu said that the beginning of the lectures was not excited since the course she took was not what she had been coveted. She only got the Achievement Index of 2.7 as the result during the first year of college.

"At that time I was lazy to go to college, lazy to see the curves. I ever came late in having the exam so I finally got E. Alhamdulillah family and friends were always giving spirit. I gradually improved in the next semester. I also repearted the courses that I did not pass," she recalled.

Getting encouragement from family and parents gave new energy for Ayu to improve the college grades. She managed to get the 4.0 Achievement Index in the 5th  and 6th  semesters. Not only the grade was improving, Ayu was also active in the competition events.

Ayu had been a writer and presenter at The Regional Geoheritage Conference of Khon-Kaen Province, Thailand 2018, author and presenter at International Conference on Green Agro-Industry 2017, author and presenter at International Paper Contest Mining 2017 Padang State University 2017, author and presenter on Paper International SAKAMAGA ITB 2017.

Ayu had also become the 2nd  Winner of MTQ Islamic Student Activity Unit of UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta, the 1st  Winner of Gateball Circuit Series IV of Sleman Regency, the 2nd  winner of the 2nd  series of Women's Basketball and the 1st  Winner of the Three Point Contest at the National Basketball Championship of Psychology Facukty of University of Indonesia 2014.

During her time in college, she was active in the management of Kelir Magazine Part Of National Geographic Regional Yogyakarta, a member of BPPM Kliring, an Active of Student Activity Unit of Basketball, a research assistant, and active in various seminars and committees.

The result of Ayu's hard work was not in vain. She managed to have GPA 3.85 and finished her study period for 3 years 10 months, and was entitled to wear a black sash with cumlaude inscribed. (wwj / publicist)