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 156th Anniversary festivities on 28 November 2024. In addition to HYY’s official honours being awarded, good teachers and distinguished organisation heroes were also awarded prizes at the event.

HYY’s most prestigious honour, the badge of HYY’s chairs in the wide purple ribbon, was awarded to professor, forensic odontologist and war crimes expert Helena Ranta in honour of her life’s work. The purple ribbon is awarded for extremely significant work for society or the Student Union. It was last awarded in 2018 to President Sauli Niinistö.

‘Ranta has changed the world with her life’s work. She has utilised her academic skills in exemplary fashion especially to advance human rights and justice, which benefits all of us’, Chair of HYY’s Board Antti Kaijansinkko justifies the awarded honour.

During her long career, Ranta has worked internationally to advocate human rights, justice and forensic medicine. She has led and participated in several forensic research groups in various crisis areas, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Cameroon, Thailand and Nepal. Through her work, Ranta has supported the realisation of human rights and justice as well as work for peace all around the world. Ranta has also been a long-standing member of various women’s organisations, promoting equality and the status of women.

‘The legacy my generation is leaving you is not entirely praiseworthy. For this reason, we are now placing our hope in you because you are the voice of the future’, Ranta stated in her acceptance speech.

Other honours were also awarded at the event. 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 was awarded to Attorney Jaakko Hietala for his work for the Student Union and to Vice Rector Kai Nordlund for his student-friendly attitude.

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 the following people:

• Heidi Ahlajoki
• Hanna Eskolin
• Riina Karvonen
• Riikka Kokko
• Rasmus Olander
• Eedla Rahikainen
• Esa Tiusanen
• Leea Tolvas
• Aleksi Tujunen
• Kari Vilkki
• Sebastian Österman

The Student Union’s standard is awarded to communities that have advanced the Student Union’s aspirations. The standard was awarded to the faculty organisation of the Faculty of Educational Sciences Condus ry, Eurooppalainen Suomi ry and the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL), all of which celebrated milestone anniversaries in 2024.

More information

Antti Kaijansinkko
antti.kaijansinkko@hyy.fi
050 475 1280