USU PUBLIC RELATIONS – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held a ceremony to commemorate Heroes Day 2026 on Tuesday (November 10, 2026), at the courtyard of the USU Rectorate Building. Carrying the theme “My Hero, My Role Model: Moving Forward Together to Continue the Struggle,” the event served as an opportunity to honor the sacrifices of national heroes while instilling the values of heroism in the younger generation.

USU Vice Rector for Human Resources, Finance, and Information Systems, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin Nasution, S.Sos., M.SP., delivered the address of the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Saifullah Yusuf. The address emphasized that the spirit of giving one’s best for the nation should be part of everyday life, wherever people are and whatever profession they pursue.

The Vice Rector also conveyed that national development should not focus solely on promoting economic growth but should also aim to build a high-quality Indonesian population, strengthen human resources, reduce poverty, expand opportunities, and ensure that prosperity can be enjoyed by all segments of society.

Human development is an essential part of this process, as a nation’s progress is ultimately determined by the quality of its people.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin Nasution, S.Sos., M.SP., also highlighted the strategic role of education in this process. Education provides individuals with opportunities to develop their potential, build independence, improve their quality of life, and prepare future generations to take part in national development.

Therefore, various government programs continue to focus on expanding access to education, improving learning quality, strengthening character development, and providing better opportunities for Indonesian children, particularly those from families in need.

USU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Alumni, Prof. Dr. Poppy Anjelisa Zaitun Hasibuan, S.Si., M.Si., Apt., viewed Heroes Day as an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of national heroes and put their exemplary values into practice within the academic community. She emphasized that integrity and honesty are important values that must be upheld, particularly by students.

She also encouraged students to make the best use of their time to achieve excellence. According to her, student achievements contribute not only to USU but also serve as valuable preparation for entering the workforce in the future.

The 2026 Heroes Day commemoration at USU is expected to go beyond a ceremonial event and serve as a reminder for the entire academic community to embody the values of heroism through integrity, hard work, achievement, and meaningful contributions.