From Tulungagung to Surabaya: The Story of Team MenyalaWi Shining at ARA 6.0

Team MenyalaWi from SMAN 1 Boyolangu proudly received the runner-up award at OlimpIT ARA 6.0, marking an extraordinary achievement in their national debut.

Surabaya, IT Journalistic — Team MenyalaWi from SMAN 1 Boyolangu, Tulungagung, stood out at the OlimpIT ARA 6.0 competition hosted by Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS). In their first-ever competition, Hendra Manudinata and Caesar Ravsanjani successfully claimed the second-place position, creating an inspiring story from their initial foray into the national stage.

“Wow, it feels amazing! We’re proud to win second place, even though it’s a mixed feeling of joy and sadness since we didn’t get the golden ticket. But overall, we’re happy and very satisfied,” Hendra expressed during an interview. Their accomplishment not only brought personal pride but also elevated their school’s name on the national scene.

The team’s motivation to participate was both simple and profound. “Besides wanting to test our skills, we also had a big goal: to get into ITS Information Technology,” Caesar added. Their curiosity about subjects like cybersecurity and the Internet of Things drove their decision to join OlimpIT ARA 6.0.

Competing at the national level for the first time provided the MenyalaWi team with unforgettable lessons. They balanced their schoolwork with self-study using various resources. “We studied from modules while still doing school assignments. Thankfully, our hard work paid off,” said Hendra.

One of their most memorable experiences was traveling to Surabaya for the finals. “This was our first time competing in an offline competition. We took a train to Surabaya, were picked up by the organizers, and provided with accommodation. Everything was truly memorable. The ARA 6.0 organizers were amazing. Stay healthy, everyone!” Caesar shared enthusiastically.

However, their journey to success wasn’t without challenges. Their biggest hurdle was understanding advanced topics in cybersecurity and debugging programs using Arduino simulations on Wokwi. “We were frustrated because the simulation server was really slow. We wasted so much time just making sure our code worked,” they recalled.

Team MenyalaWi poses excitedly with other finalists at the OlimpIT ARA 6.0 event

Despite the obstacles, Team MenyalaWi felt immense pride in their achievements. This competition also strengthened their determination to pursue studies in Information Technology. “Bismillah, we’ll get into ITS Information Technology. This experience at ARA has been a huge motivation for us,” Caesar said optimistically.

SMAN 1 Boyolangu is known for its commitment to supporting students’ interests and talents, especially in information technology. Through various programs and activities, the school gives students the chance to develop their skills, leading to impressive achievements like winning a top spot in the national OlimpIT ARA 6.0 competition. With a supportive and collaborative environment, the school helps students unlock their full potential and prepares them to compete in today’s digital world.

OlimpIT ARA 6.0 highlights how students’ enthusiasm can flourish when paired with a well-designed competition platform. The Department of Information Technology at ITS created an event that not only pushes students to grow their skills but also provides valuable learning experiences for participants from all over the country. The hard work and dedication of the MenyalaWi team from SMAN 1 Boyolangu are a great reminder that with the right effort and encouragement, success is always within reach.

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IT Journalistic
22 Januari 2025
Clara Valentina
Azzahra Sekar Rahmadina