Good news came from the Indonesian Literature Study Program at Diponegoro University on November 12, 2025. Four female students from Undip successfully brought home four prestigious awards at once through a literacy event titled Short Story Writing Competition on the City of Semarang for Senior High School Level and General Participants up to 30 Years Old.
The awardees were Ervina Eka Safira, who won First Prize with her short story “Ik Hou van Jou: The Most Beautiful Curse in the Land of Oudestad”; Cattleya Sekar Wohingati, also securing First Prize with “A Bowl of Moonlight for My Lover”; Sindah Laili Nurjanah, who achieved Second Prize with “A Woman Cursing the Ocean”; and Alifia Zakiyatul Millah, who earned Third Prize with “At the Corner of an Incomplete Moon.”
The competition was held from September 15 to September 30, 2025. Designed to capture and weave together intergenerational perspectives on life, love, friendship, history, and social dynamics in Semarang, the event was organized into three categories: elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school/general participants. In addition, the competition explored a wide range of aspects through its five main themes, including folklore and legends, inspirational figures, historical buildings and sites, traditions and culture, as well as traditional cuisine of Semarang.
The fifty best works from each category were later compiled into three short story anthologies about the City of Semarang. These books were officially launched alongside the inauguration of the AWP (Aktivitas Warga Pintar) program and the announcement of the winners for each category and theme. The Semarang City Government and the Semarang City Office of Library and Archives expressed their hope that this event would bring fresh momentum to literacy development and serve as a platform for nurturing promising new writers in the city.
Dr. Sukarjo Waluyo, S.S., M.Hum., Head of the Indonesian Literature Study Program at the Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University, extended his congratulations on this remarkable achievement and expressed his appreciation for the students’ enthusiasm and dedication. He hopes that this success will inspire other students to actively participate in various academic and creative activities to further enhance student achievement.