USU PR – Muhammad Aryadefa, an undergraduate student in the Computer Science Program at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (Fasilkom-TI), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), has been selected as a contestant in Clash of Champions (CoC) Season 3, an academic competition organized by Ruangguru. Aryadefa, commonly known as Ardef, is the only student representing USU in the prestigious competition. The first episode of CoC Season 3 officially premiered on Sunday (June 28, 2026) through the Ruangguru YouTube channel.

Clash of Champions is an academic competition that brings together outstanding students from universities across Indonesia, as well as Indonesian students pursuing higher education abroad. The competition is designed to test participants through a series of challenges that require intelligence, precision, analytical thinking, and strategic problem-solving skills.

Ardef earned his place after successfully passing a rigorous selection process. The process began with an administrative screening involving the submission of an achievement portfolio and curriculum vitae (CV), followed by a skills test and an interview before he was officially selected as one of the participants in CoC Season 3.

He explained that the greatest challenge came during the initial administrative selection. With thousands of applicants from across Indonesia, each candidate had to demonstrate their strengths through their documents and track record of achievements.

Ardef expressed his gratitude and admitted that he never expected to become part of such a prestigious competition. According to him, the achievement was the result of a long journey that began with the initial selection stage amid intense competition with thousands of applicants from universities throughout Indonesia.

"When I received the news that I had successfully passed each stage of the selection process, it was an incredibly surprising and gratifying moment," he said.

Ardef further shared that his interest in joining the competition stemmed from his habit of watching Clash of Champions since its first season. He said the program inspired him to keep learning and motivated him to one day become one of its contestants.

"I have followed Clash of Champions since its first season. The program has motivated me to keep learning. When the opportunity came, I wanted to become one of the contestants and hopefully inspire others through the journey I have taken," he said.

Ardef also acknowledged the strong support he received from the USU community throughout the selection process. Lecturers, fellow students, and faculty leaders provided encouragement and assisted him during the voting stage whenever required.

At the end of the interview, Ardef encouraged fellow USU students not to hesitate in seizing every opportunity that comes their way. According to him, having the courage to take the first step is the key to gaining valuable experiences and achieving greater accomplishments.

"No matter how difficult the challenge may be, never hesitate to seize an opportunity. Having the courage to start is the first step toward success. I hope to see more USU students representing our university and bringing pride to our campus on the national stage," he concluded.