Khon Kaen University celebrated individuals and organisations receiving honorary doctoral degrees, the Golden Phra That Phanom Award, the Sri Mo Dindaeng Award, the Sri Kalaphruek Award, and the Golden Kalaphruek Award.

Khon Kaen University (KKU) hosted KKU Honor Night 2025 to celebrate the recipients of the Royal Honorary Doctoral Degrees, the Golden Phra That Phanom Award, the Sri Mor Din Daeng Award, the Sri Kalaphruek Award, and the Golden Kalaphruek Award for the academic year 2025. The event took place on 18 December 2025 at 18:00 hrs, in the Orchid Ballroom, 2nd Floor, Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid Hotel.

The event was presided over by Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of the Khon Kaen University Council, and was attended by Mr. Surapon Petch vra, Vice Chairman of the University Council, Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, and Professor Supachai Pathumnakul, Ph.D., Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), who was being honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Education Degree (Innovation, Technology, and Learning Sciences). The ceremony saw a large attendance of University Council members, executives, deans, faculty representatives, students, and distinguished guests.

The programme for the KKU Honor Night 2025 commenced with a Meet and Greet activity, followed by the formal ceremony. The proceedings began with the screening of a video dedicated to the memory and honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. Subsequently, Mr. Surapon Petch vra, Vice Chairman of the University Council, paid tribute to the benevolence of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and highlighted the significance of the awards and the invaluable contributions made by the honourees to the public good.

Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, remarked, “Today, we celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations that have made substantial contributions to Khon Kaen University, the community, and society. Khon Kaen University confers these prestigious awards to recognise the dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff, and students, and to honour and thank the external individuals and entities who have tirelessly worked alongside the KKU community.”

• The Sri Mo Dindaeng Award honours outstanding KKU staff members in both academic and support roles.
  • In the Academic Staff Category, the recipient was Professor Monchai Duangjinda, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Agriculture. Professor Monchai is an expert in genetics and animal breeding, recognised for pioneering the use of the Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) technique and biotechnology in the Thai agricultural industry. His research has been widely published and cited internationally.
  • In the Support Staff Category, Ms. Benchamart Channual, from the Faculty of Medicine, was honoured for being the first at Srinagarind Hospital to initiate and develop a service system for patients undergoing home mechanical ventilation. She systematically applied academic knowledge to develop innovations that tangibly resolved systemic operational issues within the Hospital.

The Sri Kalaphruek Award was presented to Nat Trakarnthai, a sixth-year medical student from the Faculty of Medicine. Mr. Nat was commended for his exemplary conduct in personal, social, and professional life (Khrong Ton, Khrong Khon, Khrong Ngan). He demonstrated excellence in research development, winning international awards, and served as a moral benchmark for his peers. His active participation in UN activities promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reflects the perfect spirit of a KKU student.

• The Golden Kalaphruek Award is bestowed upon individuals and organisations partnering with KKU to benefit society.
  • Individual Category: Professor Songsak Kiatchoosakul, M.D., was recognised for pioneering non-surgical cardiac treatment technology at the Queen Sirikit Heart Centre of the Northeast and establishing the nation’s first systematic referral network for acute myocardial infarction patients. Additionally, he initiated the pioneering Home Isolation system and the SMART Hospital project.
  • Juristic Entity Category: The Puparn Royal Development Study Centre in Sakon Nakhon Province (represented by Mr. Sannarat Pawinanyanon, Director of the Centre) was honoured for its notable role as a centre for researching, developing, and disseminating sustainable agricultural models. The Centre perpetuates the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and serves as a sustainable development prototype.

The President concluded his address by stating, “The individuals and organisations recognised today are outstanding examples of the power of education and dedication to the public good. They reflect the immense value that an individual or organisation can create for society and the nation. May their stories serve as an inspiration for all of us to utilise our fullest potential to build a thriving and sustainable society.”

Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of the University Council and officiating chairman, praised the awardees. He connected their achievements to the powerful words of Sir Winston Churchill, the great former British Prime Minister, who said: ‘The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.’ Dr. Narongchai explained that this reflects a profound vision that future power and greatness will not be measured by territory or military might, but by knowledge, wisdom, and the power of thought. This aligns perfectly with today’s awardees, who have used their knowledge, creativity, and public spirit to generate social benefits.

“If many people consistently pursue virtuous actions, the realm of the righteous and the enlightened will be boundless. This KKU Honor Night 2025 is vital in honouring these virtuous contributors, creating inspiration for the next generation to follow in their footsteps. This is a principle that must be propagated widely. On behalf of the Khon Kaen University Council, I congratulate all recipients for their invaluable contributions to society and for serving as noble role models for the future,” said Dr. Narongchai.

Following the presentation of awards, Mr. Sala Khunwut (known as Kru Sala), a representative of the honorary degree and esteemed prize recipients, delivered a significant address on “The Importance of Higher Education Institutions Honouring Individuals Dedicated to Public Benefit.” Mr. Khunwut shared his personal journey, detailing why he initially pursued songwriting: “When I started writing songs, I did not have a luxurious dream, but I wanted my family to be safe from poverty. Poverty heavily threatened my family; my brother had an accident, and my mother suffered from diabetes. My teacher’s salary after I got married could not guarantee my family’s safety from poverty. So, I fought back through songwriting. One day, songs like Jod Mai Phid Zong and Krathong Long Thang became hits. From that day on, GMM Grammy invited me, the provincial teacher, to sit among the musicians and composers in the Grammy building.”

After working for some time, Kru Sala observed recurring characteristics within Isan society and set a personal mission to address, develop, and create social value, which led to the inclusion of purposeful and reflective messages in his lyrics. Kru Sala stated, “Along my journey as a songwriter, I observed four key weaknesses in the Isan identity: first, a reluctance to express who we truly are; second, a tendency to feel envy when others succeed; third, the desire for progress while neglecting our cultural heritage (Heet Khong); and fourth, a reliance on others and a habit of waiting for assistance. I therefore committed myself to an ideology: if I write songs, I want to use that opportunity to help address these four issues.” These values have been consistently embedded in Kru Sala’s work. As a result, his songs not only brought popularity and recognition to the artists who performed them, but also carried creative and ethical substance that nurtured the spirit of the Isan people, achieving timeless status as culturally significant artistic and lyrical works that have endured for decades.

Mr. Suttipong Suriya, Managing Director of Karb Style Company Limited and recipient of the Golden Phra That Phanom Award, shared his perspective: “No matter where we go, or how many spotlights shine on us, the most crucial thing is never to forget who we are—people of Isan. This identity must be reflected in various contexts, whether through food or wearing a sarong. These actions articulate the identity we are proud of. If we are not proud of ourselves, how can we expect others to be proud of us? Therefore, we must first believe in ourselves.”

“Receiving the Golden Phra That Phanom Award holds profound meaning, akin to receiving a global award, because it is an award from the people of Isan, given to an individual who works with public spirit and for the benefit of others. Khon Kaen University, the number one university for the people of Isan, discovering and conferring this honour proves that the people of Isan accept me. In the past, people in Isan often did not accept our own people; we had to make a name abroad first. But today, this award answers the question: we can achieve acceptance from the people in our own area. I have worked since Bueng Kan, the newest and most remote province, turning our vision into reality, establishing clear markets and networks that allow locals to stand on their own feet. This proves that we must rely on ourselves. When self-reliance is achieved, faith and pride will emerge, and we will feel that this is who we are—with honour and dignity. The people of Isan must uphold this principle.”

List of Royal Honorary Doctoral Degree Recipients

• Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn: Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Science, Agriculture, and Environment)
• Professor Supachai Pathumnakul, Ph.D.: Honorary Doctor of Education (Innovation, Technology, and Learning Sciences)
• Mr. Sala Khunwut: Honorary Doctor of Music (Music Arts)

List of Golden Phra That Phanom Award Recipients

• Mr. Suttipong Suriya: Managing Director of Khab Style Company Limited

List of Sri Mo Dindaeng Award Recipients

• Academic Staff Category: Professor Monchai Duangjinda, Ph.D., Faculty of Agriculture
• Support Staff Category: Ms. Benchamart Channual, Faculty of Medicine

List of Sri Kalaphruek Award Recipient

• Nat Trakarnthai: Sixth-year Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine

List of Golden Kalaphruek Award Recipients

• Individual Category: Professor Songsak Kiatchoosakul, M.D.
• Juristic Entity Category: Puparn Royal Development Study Centre, Sakon Nakhon Province (Accepted by Mr. Sannarat Pawinanyanon, Director of the Centre)

The staging of the KKU Honor Night 2025 underscores Khon Kaen University’s vital mission as a leading regional higher education institution, committed to generating value and recognising those dedicated to serving society. This event is crucial for cultivating public consciousness and creating positive role models working for the common good, thereby serving as a key mechanism for driving Thailand toward sustainable progress.

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