VYY awarded distinguished actors

The Student Union of the University of Vaasa awarded distinctions to active members at its Annual Ball on 21 February 2026. We awarded Badges of Merit 1st and 2nd class, the Emblem of the Distinguished Member, and the Chalice of Positivity according to our Record of Tradition.

Anyone can apply for a distinction with support from members of the Representative Council or Council group. The application period for distinctions was open at the end of 2025.

Badges of Merit 1st Class

The Student Union of the University of Vaasa awarded the Badge of Merit 1st Class in 2026 to Jonni Kuortti, Sara Alasuutari, Maria Saita, and Emma Lehtonen.

Jonni Kuortti has earned his merit in various positions in the Student Union. He has been a member of the Representative Council group Warranttilaiset in several tasks and working groups, including renewing VYY’s strategy and Policy Paper. In 2025, he was Chair of the Representative Council. Kuortti was a member of VYY’s Executive Board in 2024 with focus on educational policy. During his year in the Board, he developed the Student Union’s language policy recommendations for the university community. He has volunteered his knowledge to the national student movement by participating actively in the General Assemblies of the National Union of University Students in Finland. 

Sara Alasuutari has worked actively in the Student Union from the Boards of CoMedia and VYY to acting as VYY’s Communications Specialist. Her work emphasizes wellbeing and equality: As Chair in CoMedia, she took part in founding a new position for the subject organization’s Board responsible for working life and wellbeing. As VYY’s Executive Board member responsible for organizations and member services, she expanded our activity with anti-bullying persons (“hyvis”) to encompass organizations. As Chair of VYY’s Executive Board in 2022, Alasuutari developed our work in equality and antiracism and updated our Declaration of Equality. During the year, the Student Union established harassment contact persons and started utilizing a Safer Space Policy at its events. 

Maria Saita has earned her credentials as an advocate for students both locally and nationally. She worked in the Board of the subject organization Hallinnoijat ry and has been an active member of VYY’s Representative Council during several terms. In 2024, Saita was the member responsible for municipal policy and communication in VYY’s Executive Board. She made the year’s Presidential and European Parliamentary elections visible to students and conducted the Student-Friendly City survey, whose results VYY uses in advocacy. After a successful election campaign, Saita was elected to the Board for the National Union of University Students in Finland in 2025. During her year at SYL, Saita was a visible advocate in national media and worked to raise the Kela meal subsidy.

Emma Lehtonen has a long track record in student advocacy. She has worked in several working groups in the Representative Council during several terms and as an administration student representative. In 2023, Lehtonen was VYY’s Executive Board member responsible for internationality and took an active stance for the position of international students. In 2024, Lehtonen was Chair of VYY’s Executive Board and worked especially to advance VYY’s relationship with the University of Vaasa and other stakeholders.

Badges of Merit 2nd Class

The recipients of VYY’s Badges of Merit 2nd Class in 2026 are Elmo Paloniemi, Jasmin Koskela, and Laura Karppinen.

Elmo Paloniemi has successfully worked in challenging positions in the Student Union. His journey to student advocacy also began in the Board of a subject organization, when he worked as the second project coordinator and Chair in Hallinnoijat ry’s Board in 2021 and 2022, respectively. In 2023, Paloniemi had big shoes to fill as Chair of VYY’s Executive Board. During his year, he led the Student Union towards a historical decision, when he handled the selling and negotiating agreements of the student house Domus Bothnica together with VYY’s Secretary General. Paloniemi has also been a member of the Representative Council for several terms and an administration student representative in the University of Vaasa Board.

Jasmin Koskela is an active worker and competent advocate in the Student Union. She began her work with Boards in CoMedia in 2021 and the following year, became the member responsible for municipal policy in VYY’s Executive Board. During her year in VYY’s Board, Koskela worked in close cooperation with decision makers in the City of Vaasa and VOAS to develop Vaasa as a student-friendly city. Koskela has been a member of the Representative Council from the term 2022–23, and in 2024 she was also the 2nd Chair of the Council. Koskela has also worked for the national student movement by leading Maria Saita to the SYL Board as campaign manager.

Laura Karppinen is known both as a student advocate and a community caretaker. Karppinen was VYY’s tutor in 2021 and a tutor educator in 2022, working to create a safe and welcoming environment for freshers. The application describes Karppinen as a multitalent in educational policy: She worked in Hallinnoijat ry’s Board as responsible for educational policy in 2022 and continued that work in VYY’s Executive Board. During her time at VYY’s Board, she advocated for equal treatment of students, developed the university’s policies, and took initiative towards subject organizations. Karppinen has also been an active member of the Representative Council and an administration student representative.

Emblem of the Distinguished Member

The Emblem of the Distinguished Member in 2026 was awarded to Laura Koivisto. The application describes Koivisto as an unwavering promoter of equality. She has worked in several positions in different Boards and been an active member of the Representative Council for several terms. She has volunteered her time in the Board of Hallinnoijat ry and as the member responsible for social policy in VYY’s Executive Board. She focused on student wellbeing by advocating for students in the university sport services and by developing equality on campus. Koivisto has also worked as an administration student representative in the Council of Education during the term 2022–23.

The Chalice of Positivity

Juha Jaara, Juha Nissinen, and Risto Pulkka are fathers of the Chalice of Positivity. It has been awarded in 1996–2006 and again from 2015. According to VYY’s Record of Tradition, the Chalice of Positivity is given annually to a person who has strengthened solidarity among students by unofficial activity and thus promoted the operations of the Student Union. Young academic age is considered an advantage. 

The Chalice of Positivity was awarded to Millie Kivinen. She was chosen by the jury comprised of the Student Union’s Secretary General, Tutor Coordinator, and Board member responsible for tutoring. The recipient is always chosen unanimously without voting.