Two English Literature students have recently claimed victories at Ellocution 2026, an event organized by the English Department Student Association of Universitas Teknologi Yogyakarta. The event took place at Bukit Pangol Rayya, Bantul, Yogyakarta, on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

The competitions at Ellocution 2026 were divided into several specific categories, including News Anchor, Storytelling, and Poetry Reading. Each category was judged directly by a panel of judges based on criteria established by the organizing committee.

In the competition, Miladia Nihayatuzain (Class of 2024) claimed first place in the Storytelling category after successfully delivering a folklore-themed story titled Jaka Tarub dan 7 Bidadari (Jaka Tarub and the 7 Fairy Maidens). Meanwhile, in the Poetry Reading category, Haikal Alex Reza (Class of 2024) secured the Runner-up position after reciting the poem The Guest House by Jalaluddin Rumi. Both Miladia and Haikal participated on their own initiative, driven by a desire to gain competitive experience outside of campus and to put their English skills to the test beyond the classroom. Their preparation time was also relatively brief, squeezed in between their busy academic schedules, yet both managed to deliver outstanding performances.

Reflecting on their achievement in this off-campus competition, Haikal shared his thoughts on the experience. "Personally, I feel grateful to have placed second in this competition, because from the very beginning, our goal in signing up was simply to seek new experiences outside the campus environment," he said.

This demonstrates that participating in off-campus competitions can offer fresh perspectives on how material learned in the classroom can be applied in a public setting. It also proves that strong internal motivation from students themselves is capable of producing meaningful achievements.

This success is hoped to inspire other English Literature students to continue actively pursuing various positive competitive activities in the future. Participation in off-campus competitions like this is not merely about winning or losing, it serves as a highly effective platform for students to apply the knowledge they have gained in the classroom. Through direct involvement in categories such as storytelling, poetry reading, and news anchoring, students are challenged to build their confidence and sharpen their public speaking skills.

Therefore, the independent achievements demonstrated at Ellocution 2026 are hoped to spark similar initiatives among other students, encouraging them to more boldly explore their potential and carry the name of the English Literature program forward across various levels of competition. (SUF/SNJ)