Albert Lukas’ Journey to Becoming ITB’s 2025 Outstanding Student: Failure, Resilience, and Giving Back
By Indira Akmalia Hendri - Mahasiswa Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, 2021
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – Albert Lukas Hasugian, a 2022 student in the Entrepreneurship Program at the School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB), has been named ITB’s First Place Outstanding Student 2025 at the Pemilihan Mahasiswa Berprestasi (Pilmapres) held on Friday (June 20, 2025) at the East CC Building, ITB Ganesha Campus. This achievement reflects not only academic and non-academic excellence, but also the culmination of a long journey filled with failure, self-growth, and a deep desire to make a meaningful impact on others.
From the beginning, Albert has held the principle of giving his all in everything he does. He believes that success is not solely measured by outcomes but also by the wholehearted effort put into the process. Every step he takes is a form of responsibility toward himself—so that, regardless of the result, he has no regrets.
For him, being outstanding does not mean never failing. In fact, failure has played a pivotal role in his growth. One particularly memorable moment was when he didn’t pass the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) program. From that experience, he learned valuable lessons: how to craft compelling essays, how to present confidently in interviews, and how to accept rejection as part of the learning journey. It was through that failure that he became more resilient and self-reflective.
Beyond pursuing personal achievement, Albert carries a strong spirit of collective growth. He describes his success as the result of a "circle of giving back"—a supportive ecosystem that has shaped who he is today. Early in the competition, he received a great deal of support from mentors, friends, and community members. Now, he is committed to becoming part of that same circle for others by mentoring, sharing experiences, and creating opportunities for fellow students to grow.
“When my friends win competitions, get internships, or thrive in their organizations, I feel like I’m winning too. It’s a kind of joy that nothing else can replace,” he shared.
Sustainability and empowerment were also at the core of the innovation Albert presented in the Pilmapres. Together with his team, he initiated Paduan Biru, a sustainable fashion brand that focuses on repurposing denim waste into new clothing products. The idea stemmed from his concern about textile waste, especially in Bandung, a city known for its garment industry. They discovered large amounts of discarded denim fabric—still perfectly usable—thrown away simply because it didn’t meet production specs.
Through Paduan Biru, Albert and his team not only help reduce textile waste but also involve local tailor communities as part of the production chain. This initiative is both environmentally friendly and contributes to local economic empowerment—marking a small yet significant step toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and community-driven fashion industry in Indonesia.
To Albert, being an outstanding student is like climbing a mountain—it’s not about who reaches the summit the fastest, but about ensuring every step is intentional and every path chosen is aligned with one’s purpose. He believes that true success is not defined by speed, but by choosing the right path—and once at the top, using that achievement to uplift others.
From his experiences of falling and rising, his collaborative spirit, and his courage to try again after setbacks, Albert Lukas emerges not just as an outstanding student—but as a person who chooses to grow while helping others move forward.
