Three students from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), once again achieved a proud national accomplishment. The team consisting of Kayla Ramadhani Sandy, Daffa Muhafiz Rizky Rachmawan, and Michael Haris Ang successfully won First Place in the National Dentistry of Hang Tuah Scientific Competition (NDHSC) 2026 in the quiz competition category.
The competition, organized by the Faculty of Dentistry at Hang Tuah University, Surabaya, on May 9, 2026, brought together the best dental students from leading universities across Indonesia. Ten universities competed in the semifinal and final rounds, including Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Brawijaya, and Universitas Hasanuddin.
For the FKG UGM team, the victory was not merely about bringing home a trophy, but also about overcoming time limitations, academic pressure, and mental challenges as preclinical students.
Kayla Ramadhani Sandy, a 2023 cohort student from Jakarta, revealed that competition preparation was carried out amid lectures and thesis work.
“We prepared for the competition while completing academic assignments and our thesis work. So we really had to manage our time carefully,” she said.
The biggest challenge actually came during the preliminary round. They had to face a 3-credit weighted examination topic from morning until noon before continuing with the online competition that lasted until night.
“The preliminary day was quite exhausting. We finished the exam around 11 a.m., then immediately continued with preparation and the online competition until night. That situation truly tested our focus and stamina,” explained Daffa Muhafiz Rizky Rachmawan, an FKG UGM student from Pekalongan.
Nevertheless, the pressure instead became additional motivation for them to prove their abilities. Without direct supervision from a specific faculty advisor, the three students relied on teamwork, communication, and disciplined independent study.
Michael Haris Ang, a student from Bali, stated that competitions are not only about seeking victory, but also about building networks and gaining experience.
“We wanted to achieve success in our own way and maximize our preclinical years. Besides that, competitions also provide opportunities to build relationships and camaraderie with students from various universities across Indonesia,” he said.
A strong sense of humanity characterized their journey. Amid busy academic schedules, the three students consistently encouraged one another. They reminded each other not to give up, even when study time became extremely limited.
This achievement simultaneously illustrates that student success does not emerge instantly. There is a long process behind it — sacrifices of time, perseverance, and the courage to keep trying despite high academic pressure.
For them, victory at NDHSC 2026 is not the finish line, but the first step toward continuously growing into competent and adaptive future dentists capable of facing challenges.
They also shared an inspiring message for fellow FKG UGM students.
“Never be afraid to keep trying and exploring new things. Failures don’t define you, giving up does. Build relationships and networks in your own way,” said Kayla, Daffa, and Michael together.
This achievement once again reinforces the role of FKG UGM students as a young generation that excels not only academically, but also demonstrates resilience, solidarity, and competitive spirit at the national level.
Reporter: Andri Wicaksono
