HYY awards honours for distinguished activity

HYY annually awards honours to individuals and communities that have had a significant impact in society, distinguished themselves in the Student Union’s activities or otherwise advanced the Student Union’s aspirations.

The honours were awarded during HYY’s 157th Anniversary on 8 November 2025. Three badges of honour in the wide ribbon, three standards and nine narrow ribbons were awarded at the Anniversary.

The Student Union’s badge of honour in the wide ribbon is awarded to individuals who have significantly promoted the Student Union’s aspirations or to whom the Student Union wishes to pay considerable homage. The wide ribbon with the Student Union’s badge of honour was awarded to three people:

• Tarja Pääkkönen, long-term member of Ylva’s Board
• Erkka Valkila, long-term member of Ylva’s Board
• Anita Lehikoinen, former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture

The Student Union’s standard may be awarded to a community that has advanced the Student Union’s aspirations. The standard was awarded to three communities:

• Fime, the Finnish Institute in the Middle East
• Latokartano Foundation, administrator of the Latokartano Student Village
• Symbioosi ry, subject organisation of biology students at the University of Helsinki

The Student Union’s badge of merit in the narrow ribbon is awarded to individuals who have conducted notable and meritorious work for the Student Union. The narrow ribbon was awarded to nine distinguished people:

• Lauri Hatakka
• Loviisa Hirvonen
• Mikko Kymäläinen
• Benjamin Lamberg
• Anniina Lehmus
• Anna Lemström
• Etta Melander
• Jonna Rättyä
• Inka Sylgren

The Student Union’s most prestigious honour, the badge of HYY’s chairs in the wide purple ribbon, was not awarded this year. In addition to HYY’s official honours, prizes were also awarded to good teachers and organisation heroes during the festivities.

Further information
Petra Pulli
petra.pulli@hyy.fi
050 475 1280