As published on the official website of the Master of Islamic Studies, the alumni of the Master of Islamic Studies (MSI) program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta have achieved numerous accomplishments. One such alumna is Azizah Herawati, a graduate of the 2015 MSI class. On December 19, 2020, the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership’s Library and Information Board (MPI) held the Fachrodin Award 2020 Webinar and Award Ceremony, which was conducted via Zoom and could be watched on the Muhammadiyah YouTube Channel.
Azizah, affectionately known as Bu Smart on the UMY campus, won first place in the Fachrodin Award 2020. She wrote a feature article titled “Success on an Old Bicycle,” which highlighted the simple and humble figure behind the success of the Muhammadiyah Branch Leader in Muntilan, a man named Pak Trimo. In her comments, Azizah said, “At first, I felt inferior and it seemed like a dream. I couldn’t believe it because there were 67 entries submitted to the committee, mostly from journalists, and I’m just a beginner writer who’s still learning.”
The Fachrodin Award 2020 was organized by the MPI of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership as an award for the best journalistic works about the role and contributions of Muhammadiyah at the local level. Azizah’s motivation for participating in the Fachrodin Award 2020 was to hone her writing skills and to use this opportunity to highlight local figures who were almost forgotten, despite their extraordinary contributions to the organization.
Azizah shared her message and impressions of the event, saying, “Continue this event to promote Muhammadiyah from all corners of the country. The Fachrodin Award 2020 is extraordinary because through it, we learned who the initiators of Suara Muhammadiyah were.” This former Nasyiatul Aisyiyah activist, who is now active in ‘Aisyiyah and Muhammadiyah, has also written several anthologies, journals, and articles for both print and online media.
The following image is an expression of her gratitude and joy when this 2015 National Exemplary Extension Worker from Magelang, Central Java, received the award, as written on her social media account.
