In the early mornings in his hometown of Purworejo, Rohmat Wibowo’s day began with the sounds of hoes and footsteps in the rice fields, where his father, Rajiya, worked as a farmer and occasionally sold dawet (a traditional drink) to help support the family. His mother, Sugiatmi, was a homemaker. Growing up in this humble environment, Rohmat learned the values of hard work, patience, and the belief that education is the path out of limitations.

At the December 2025 graduation ceremony at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), an inspiring story emerged from Ilyas Fahmi Fathurahman, S.Pd., a student of the Physical Education, Health, and Recreation (PJKR) Bachelor’s Program in the Faculty of Sport Science and Health (FIKK). At just 21 years and 10 months old, Ilyas was recognized as the youngest undergraduate graduate at UNY, earning a cumulative GPA (IPK) of 3.85.

Betran Yunior, S.I.Kom — from selling iced tea with his parents by the side of a school to walking across the graduation stage at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) — his life journey is a story about dreams nurtured through hard work and perseverance. At the UNY December 2025 graduation ceremony held at the UNY Sports Hall (GOR) on Tuesday (23/12/2025), Betran was crowned the undergraduate graduate with the highest cumulative GPA (3.98) at UNY.

Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) officially inaugurated Kampung Emas Bumijo Kulon in Kelurahan Bumijo, Jetis District, Yogyakarta City on Saturday (13/12/2025). This inauguration establishes the area as a social laboratory that integrates the 4K concept: Campus (Kampus), Kraton (Royal Palace), Community (Kampung), and Office (Kantor).

A group of KKNM-26381 students from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), assigned in Dusun Simping, Sidomoyo, Godean, Sleman, successfully introduced a high-nutrient local food innovation: tilapia (nila) fish noodles.

This program is one of the KKN flagship projects because it integrates nutrition education, diversification of fish-based processed foods, and community economic empowerment.

Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) students participating in the Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) program in Ngadiwulan, Sumowono, Kaligesing, Purworejo, introduced an innovative product: herbal jelly made from Tanaman Obat Keluarga (TOGA), or Family Medicinal Plants. This initiative aims to modernize traditional herbal medicine, making it more appealing and accessible, especially to the younger generation.

Reni Novia Alfiyanti was born into a simple rural family, the youngest of three siblings. Her father, Haryanto, works as a farmer, while her mother, Nur Khaniyati, is a loving homemaker. From her parents, Reni learned the meaning of hard work, patience and sincerity. A modest life did not discourage her – on the contrary, it became the spark for her to keep striving. To her, pursuing higher education is an honour not only for herself but also the greatest gift to her family.

An inspiring story comes from Otto Wahyudi, a visually-impaired young man from Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, who successfully passed the 2025 National-Based Test Selection (SNBT) at UNY.

He was admitted to the Bachelor’s programme in Special Needs Education (PLB) at the Faculty of Education at UNY, scoring 606 on the test. Otto comes from a modest family. His father, Herison, works as a farm labourer and his mother, Reni Oktaviani, is a homemaker and the main supporter of his education. Despite economic constraints and his physical impairment, Otto’s strong spirit never diminished.

Mutiara Widiawati—affectionately called “Mutia”—is now officially listed as a freshman in the D4 Fashion Design Study Program at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY). She hails from Jetis Sumuran, Palbapang, Bantul, and is the youngest of six siblings. A graduate of SMK N 1 Pandak, she succeeded in getting into UNY via the National Achievement-Selection (SNBP) route.

Her father, Suparjo, works as a laborer, while her mother, Suratmi, is a homemaker. Among her six siblings, one of her older brothers also studied at UNY.