Abdi and Aretta Take Home Runner-Up and Best Award at the Putra-Putri Kampus Indonesia Pageant
Students from Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) have once again achieved impressive achievements at the national level. At the Putra-Putri Kampus Indonesia (PPKI) 2026, held in Surabaya on February 8, 2026, two ULM representatives won various prestigious awards and brought South Kalimantan’s name to the national stage.
Muhammad Abdi Rahman, Putra Lambung Mangkurat 2025, finished second runner-up in Putra Kampus Indonesia 2026 and won the Best Ethnic Wear award. Meanwhile, Aretta Christiani, Putri Lambung Mangkurat 2025, finished fourth runner-up in Putri Kampus Indonesia 2026 and took home two additional awards: Best Evening Gown and Putri Kampus Intelegensia 3.
The Putra-Putri Kampus Indonesia pageant is a national pageant-based competition that assesses not only appearance but also participants’ thinking skills, insight, and ability to inspire the younger generation.
Aretta Christiani explained that students play a strategic role as agents of change in society.
“The PPKI emphasizes that students should not only rely on appearances, but also possess broad insights and critical thinking skills. We are expected to inspire the younger generation around us,” she said.
Similarly, Muhammad Abdi Rahman emphasized that as campus ambassadors, participants carry a responsibility to represent their respective institutions.
“As campus students, we represent our campus and region, both regionally and nationally. So it’s not just about appearances, but also how we conduct activities and convey values ​​befitting our titles,” he explained.
The journey to the national event was not short. Abdi and Aretta underwent intensive preparation for approximately one month prior to the competition. This included filming profile videos, talent videos, photoshoots, developing advocacy programs, and various other administrative requirements.
“The preparations were quite tight, but because we were representing South Kalimantan and ULM, it was certainly a source of pride. We tried to prepare ourselves as best as possible,” Aretta said.
During their quarantine period leading up to the grand final night, the two also gained valuable experience. In addition to participating in various activities such as focus group discussions and communication skills assessments, they also built a network of friends with participants from various provinces across Indonesia.
For Abdi, this event marked his first experience as a campus ambassador at the national level.
“This is my first time representing my university and region at the national level. I never imagined I would reach this point,” he said.
The achievements of Abdi Rahman and Aretta Christiani are proof that Lambung Mangkurat University students are capable of competing and demonstrating their quality at the national level. This achievement also underscores ULM’s commitment to encouraging students to continuously develop their potential, enhance their capacity, and boldly take on the role of inspiring young people.
Through supporting various student development activities, Lambung Mangkurat University continues to strive to create an academic environment that fosters the emergence of a high-achieving generation. It is hoped that more ULM students will achieve impressive achievements and bring the university and South Kalimantan to greater national and international recognition.
