Dimas Landung Dwi Prakoso’s journey to higher education is a testament to perseverance and determination. Growing up in Bantul, Yogyakarta, the young man faced significant financial challenges and a lack of familial support for his education beyond junior high school. Despite these obstacles, Landung sought refuge and opportunity at the Darul Fatihah Islamic Boarding School in Pundong, Bantul, which provided him with free schooling and daily allowances.
Accepted at SMAN 1 Bambanglipuro Bantul, Landung excelled academically, earning accolades such as first place in the Religious Moderation Innovation Project by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2022. In his final year of high school, his achievements made him eligible for university admission through the SNBP pathway. However, financial concerns and a lack of family support continued to be barriers to his dream of higher education.
Landung’s determination was bolstered by the unwavering encouragement from his school’s counseling teacher, Eny, and the principal, Gami Sukarjo, M.Pd. Their support led him to apply for and secure the KIPK scholarship, allowing him to enroll in the Civic Education and Law program at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY).
Now a fourth-semester student with a commendable GPA of 3.84, Landung has become an active participant in student organizations and a mentor in youth programs. Reflecting on his journey, Landung attributes his resilience to the values instilled during his time at the Islamic boarding school. His entrepreneurial spirit has also flourished, as he runs a successful dawet ireng business across five locations and maintains a herd of seven goats he purchased through savings from odd jobs.
Landung’s message to aspiring students is one of perseverance: “Dreams can be achieved if you refuse to give up. Hardships are part of the process toward achieving our goals,” he emphasizes. Grateful for the KIPK scholarship, Landung aspires to continue excelling academically, and achieve his lifelong ambitions.
