HIMATIPAN’s 20th Day was officially held as a birthday celebration The Food Technology Student Association (HIMATIPAN) of Padjadjaran University marked two decades of enthusiasm, collaboration, and camaraderie. The event, held in the parking lot in front of the FTIP Unpad Building, was attended by students, lecturers, alumni, and various elements of the Food Technology academic community in a spirit of togetherness and celebration of HIMATIPAN‘s two decades.
Ruth Merry Creszentia Sinaga, a student from the class of 2025 who served as the Project Officer for HIMATIPAN’s 20th Day, explained that this activity was born from a real need to strengthen a sense of togetherness amidst the busy academic activities.
“HIMATIPAN’s Day is an effort to strengthen the sense of togetherness and family within the Unpad Food Technology academic community, especially amidst the busy academic activities that often limit interaction between residents,” said Ruth.
Figure 1. The atmosphere of the opening of the 20th HIMATIPAN’s Day in the FTIP Unpad parking area
Active and Fun “Play, Bond, and Celebrate” Theme
With the theme “Play, Bond, and Celebrate,” the committee aims to convey the message that HIMATIPAN’s Day is not a formal, rigid event. This theme embodies the active and fun-filled spirit that characterizes this year’s celebration. Every word in the theme reflects the essence of the event: playing together, building bonds, and celebrating HIMATIPAN’s two decades of achievements.
“The theme represents that HIMATIPAN’s Day is not a boring event, but rather an active and playful event,” explained Ruth enthusiastically.
A Series of Exciting and Meaningful Events
The 20th anniversary of HIMATIPAN’s Day featured a packed and meaningful series of events. The event opened with the HIMATIPAN march, followed by remarks from the Heads of Study Programs, Chairs of Associations, and Project Officers. Creative performances from each of HIMATIPAN’s divisions and bureaus enlivened the atmosphere, including dances, short plays, and poetry readings.
The symbolic cutting of the tumpeng (rice cone) culminated in the anniversary celebrations, with the Head of the Study Program, Dr. Siti Nurhasanah, S.TP., M.Sc., and the Chairman of the Association, Arthur Hezkiel, leading the procession. The performance of the band Meliora, several of whose members are Food Technology students, also enlivened the atmosphere. However, the highlight of the excitement came during the inter-year games session, which served as a platform for introductions among the Food Technology community.
“What makes this game exciting is that in one group there are students from various classes, so we can also get to know each other,” said Ruth.
Figure 2. Cutting of the Symbolic Tumpeng for HIMATIPAN’s 20th Day by the Head of Study Program and Chair of the Association
Innovations in the 20th HIMATIPAN’s Day Celebration
This year’s celebration brought several innovations that set it apart from previous events, including the location, student participation, inter-organizational collaboration, and the concept of togetherness presented throughout the event. First, the move from the FTIP Field to the parking area in front of the building created a different atmosphere, which received a positive response from participants. The new area was considered more lively and open because it was located along a busy academic route.
“Kating himself said that it was actually more comfortable to hold it in this parking lot because the vibe was like there were people coming and going and it didn’t seem as deserted as last year,” said Ruth.
The second unique feature comes from the composition of the bazaar tenants, where approximately 75% of the tenants are businesses owned by Food Technology students from various classes. This makes HIMATIPAN’s Day not only a celebration, but also a forum for the development of MSMEs for Food Technology students. Third, the 20th HIMATIPAN’s Day also invited student organizations (ormawa) within the FTIP Unpad environment, such as BEM Kema FTIP, HIMATETA, HIMATEIN, and other organizations. The presence of various ormawa is an effort to maintain friendship and strengthen relationships between students in the FTIP environment.
Another unique feature was the “Potluck” concept, first implemented at HIMATIPAN’s Day. Each attendee was asked to bring a snack to be gathered at a communal table before entering the event area. The food was then freely available for all participants to enjoy during the field performance sessions, live band, and break time. This concept was designed to symbolize togetherness and a culture of sharing within the Food Technology environment. According to Ruth, the potluck served as a simple manifestation of the “from us, for us” spirit that HIMATIPAN aims to foster in its two-decade celebration.
Figure 3. Food Technology Student MSME Bazaar at the 20th HIMATIPAN’s Day
Cross-generation Games as a Bridge of Intimacy
One of the most memorable elements of HIMATIPAN’s 20th Day was the games designed to bring students from different classes together in groups. This grouping system allowed participants to get to know each other, including memorizing the names of their teammates and opponents.
Although the enthusiasm of senior students (classes of 2022 and 2023) was not that great, the committee hopes that this game session will foster a sense of mutual acquaintance that will have a long-term impact: the establishment of a culture of greeting each other among Food Technology residents.
“There’s a sense of pride in being part of the big Food Technology family and also in the future, we can greet each other when we pass each other, even if it’s just a simple ‘Hey, hello,'” Ruth hopes, describing the impact she hopes to achieve.
The Class of 2025 Committee’s Challenge in Learning from Zero
The entire committee for the 20th HIMATIPAN’s Day was comprised of students from the class of 2025, making it their first time organizing an association-wide event. The biggest challenges arose in logistics, from electricity and tents to the paperwork for renting the space.
“Because all the committee members are from the class of 2025, they’re inexperienced. To overcome this, I often ask last year’s committee members how to do this and that. If I don’t ask, I’ll get lost,” Ruth said reflectively.
A passion for continuous learning and a willingness to ask questions of seniors were key to the event’s smooth running. This was a valuable lesson the committee will take with them for future events.
Figure 4. Cross-Class Games Session of HIMATIPAN’s 20th Day
Memorable Moments of a Project Officer
For Ruth, the entire event held unforgettable memories. However, the most memorable moment was delivering her welcoming speech as Project Officer, a truly meaningful first experience.
“Because this is also my first experience as a PO for an event,” said Ruth with emotion, describing how valuable this moment was in her journey as a student.
Hope for HIMATIPAN to Continue to Develop
As she enters her 20th year, Ruth has high hopes for HIMATIPAN’s future. She wants the association to continue growing beyond its current boundaries, not simply repeating the same pattern year after year.
“We hope that HIMATIPAN can develop further, not just revolving around the same circle, but also improving, improving, and improving in a better direction,” he stressed.
He also closed with a sentence that summarized the meaning of two decades of HIMATIPAN’s journey:
“HIMATIPAN is not just an organization, but also a big family of Unpad Food Technology.”
Figure 5. Group Photo of All Committee Members and Participants of the 20th HIMATIPAN’s Day
