Honoring Professor H.A.R. Tilaar with the Thomas Hart Benton Medal
President McRobbie presents H.A.R. Tilaar with the Hart Benton Medal
More than 200 IU alumni gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday night for a particularly special reception. Beyond serving as one of the alumni chapter’s regular gatherings, it included the presentation of the Thomas Hart Benton Medal by President McRobbie to IU School of Education alumnus H.A.R. Tilaar (MS’66, EdD’67). The medal is given to individuals who have achieved a level of distinction in public office or service and have exemplified the values of IU.
Tilaar is professor emeritus at the State University of Jakarta and a highly-influential voice for education in Indonesia. He spent 23 years as an educational specialist for BAPPENAS, the Indonesian government’s central planning agency, serving as deputy director for education and culture and assistant minister for human resource development. Tillar is the author of more than 200 articles and 20 books on Indonesian education, including the most comprehensive historical study to date. The Republic of Indonesia awarded him the “Bintang Jasa Utama,” or “Highest Service Star,” in 1998.
Accompanying Tilaar at the event was his wife Martha, the founder and president of Indonesia’s foremost cosmetic company group and expert on traditional jamu and herbal mixes. Her name and her products are well known and respected throughout Indonesia, and she is often referred to as the “Mother of Indonesia’s natural cosmetics.” When she was in the U.S. with her husband, she enrolled at the Academy of Beauty Culture in Bloomington. When she returned to Indonesia, Martha began intensive study with practitioners of traditional medicine, the start of her interest in the use of natural ingredients in cosmetic products. As a successful businesswoman and philanthropist, Martha has received many honors, among them an invitation in 2000 to become one of the founding members of the United Nations Global Compact.
President McRobbie and wife Laurie with Sulaeman Liong and the planning committee
The alumni reception was coordinated by chapter president Sulaeman Liong and planning committee members Erick Affrian, Devita M Soedjalmo, Mia Surya, Yoga Prakasa, Indiah Marsaban and Dhiny Novianti. One of the outstanding moments of the evening was an angklung performance by a group of young performers. The angklung is a musical instrument made of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved to have a resonant pitch when struck. After performing a few popular songs, the group treated the attendees to a special performance of the IU Alma Mater and fight song. Following this, group leader Mang Udjo got the attendees involved to play a couple of musical selections: each attendee was provided an angklung representing one of eight octaves. Using different hand positions, Mang Udjo directed attendees through several popular songs. The interactivity energized the group and will certainly be among the most memorable international alumni events.
Angklung performance at the IU alumni reception in Jakarta
