LUBUK PAKAM — A 14-student delegation representing Deli Serdang Regency delivered a proud achievement on the international stage by securing four medals at the Southeast Asia Olympiad Championship and Sustainable Tourism Workshop 2026. The prestigious competition took place at the UniSZA Gong Badak Campus in Terengganu, Malaysia, from August 17 to 22, 2026.
Organized by the Center for Foundation Studies in Science and Medicine (PUSPA) at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) in collaboration with Koperasi Homestay Telok Ketapang Terengganu Berhad, the event gathered 390 participants hailing from four Southeast Asian countries.
The Deli Serdang contingent comprised 13 students from SMP Negeri 1 Lubuk Pakam and one student from SMP IT Ali Bin Abu Thalib. Following an intensive six-month preparation period, the young scholars successfully bagged two gold and two bronze medals.
Gold medals were clinched by Janeeta S. Ruby and Mhd Kaysan A. Pramana in the Mathematics Test category. Meanwhile, Agnesia Simanjuntak secured a bronze medal in the English Proficiency Test, and Angelika Patresia Gultom earned a bronze medal in the Speech competition.
Head of the Deli Serdang Education Office, Suparno, expressed high praise for the students’ accomplishments, highlighting that their success demonstrates the capability of local students to perform competitively in global arenas.
“We deeply appreciate the achievements brought home by the students of Deli Serdang. Winning four medals serves as proof that with diligent preparation and proper mentorship, our students are fully capable of competing at the international level. We hope this milestone inspires other students across the regency to continue pursuing academic excellence,” Suparno stated.
Accompanied by supervising teacher Nelly Gajah Manik and delegation leader Sri Dewi Kesumaning Ayu, Suparno reiterated his hope that this triumph will motivate educators and students in Deli Serdang to actively develop their academic potentials and participate in future national and international competitions.
The success of the Deli Serdang academic contingent underlines the growing emphasis on internationalization within North Sumatra’s public and private school systems. Programs that encourage students to participate in cross-border STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and language competencies provide crucial exposure to international academic standards. Educational experts note that early participation in regional championships like the Southeast Asia Olympiad builds analytical confidence, cultural awareness, and critical thinking skills required in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
Deli Serdang’s consistent investment in student development aligned with mentoring initiatives reflects a broader strategy by local government authorities to improve educational benchmarks across the regency. By establishing sustained training frameworks prior to regional contests, local schools can systematically identify and nurture young talent. Moving forward, education advocates emphasize that expanding access to structured preparation programs will ensure more students across public and rural schools in North Sumatra achieve similar milestones on global platforms.
