For the first time ever, the Student Executive Board of Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) held the Miss UPH Scholar contest on 29 April 2008
Around 90 students registered. For the first phase of the competition, each candidate wrote an essay about ?the ideal student?. Then, those selected as the top 50 were interviewed before 20 finalists were chosen to compete at the grand final of Miss UPH Scholar. These finalists were quarantined for four days before the grand final at UPH?s Hotel. During those four days, they ran campaigns about such issues as global warming and drugs. During the quarantine period, the 20 finalists took many classes, like personality, inner beauty, make up, and communication skill classes.
In the grand final, the finalists faced more than 2,000 audience and supporters, and also the jury: UPH?s President Sheldon Nord, Sudomo, Steve Metcalfe, Eduard Depari, Brigida Oktavia, Sinta Lucia, as well as Miss Indonesia 2005 Imelda Fransisca.
The 20 finalists are: Evelyn, Janes Christina, Cecille Christophia and Jemima Tumewu from Communications; Sally Theresia from Industrial Engineering; Amanda Cininta, Anastasia Faradina and Anne from English Literature; Marcellina from Product Design; Karmela Christy and Leticia Seviraneta from Management; Rieke Caroline and Elaine Angga from Law; Agustin Oendari from Interior Design; Vanessa Ariesca and Anastasha Lovinna from International Relations; Jeansisca Kesuma and Sherliana Alamsjah from Hotel Management; Beatrix Isabella and Desiree Alberta from General Medicine.
Many people came to find out who would be the first Miss UPH. Many others were present to support their favorite finalist. The audience was entertained by some performances of music and dance in the beginning and the middle of the event.
The President of UPH?s Student Executive Board, Catherine Susantio, hoped that Miss UPH Scholar can motivate UPH?s female students so that they can face any challenge in this global era, as well as contribute to society and create changes wherever they may be.
For the Head of Committee Mimi Morysa, Miss UPH Scholar 2008 is a healthy competition to find an ideal and inspirational female student who will become UPH?s icon in the following year.
There were some steps of elimination. From 20 finalists, the top ten were selected. Then, the top ten was narrowed into top five, before Miss UPH Scholar 2008, the first and second runner-ups were announced. Everybody was screaming every time their finalist made it to top ten and then to top five.
While Tumewu won the contest, Rieke Caroline from Law became the second runner-up and Karmela Christy from Management took the first runner-up position. There was also ?Miss Favorite? title that was voted by sms and this title was given to Amanda Cininta from English Literature.
By Tommy Fitriadi, CA
