by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026





by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026



Saya Allen Htay (C58) is a founding member of RIT Alumni International and served as its President.
He wrote “Brother, can you spare US $500 and more?” for the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (aka SPZP-2000).
Saya retired thrice, but his former students coaxed him to un-retire twice.
With the help of U Maurice Chee (M75), Daw Mu Mu Kin donated Saya’s books to YTU Library. The dedication ceremony took place at YTU on February 26, 2016.

by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026

Aik Kyu (Steven Wang, M85)
Alex Khoo (Aung Kyaw)
Alfred Yaung (Sein Yaung, M67)
Anthony Ng (Aye Tun, M76)
Audrey Wong (Yi Yi Khaing, C84)
Aung Htet Naing (Aaron)
Aung Khine (EC80)
Aung Kyin (M83)
Aung Myaing (ChE72) — share time in Thailand
Aung Myint (M67, GBNF)
Aung Myint Oo (EC84)
Aung Thein (John, M72, GBNF)
Aung Thein (T69)
Aung Zaw Maung (Pet78)
Aye Aye Myint
* Benny Tan (Yu Beng, M70)
Charlie Kaw (T, GBNF)
Charlie Tseng (EC70)
Cho Cho Thwin (EC86)
Darren Lee (Naing Win, M62, GBNF)
David Ko (Tin Myint, M67, GBNF)
Dennis Chee (Thein Tun Aung, EP76)
Dennis S. Lin (San Naing, M83)
Diana Tseng (ChE71)
Edward Saw (Yu Ket, EC85)
Eng Shwe (M87)
* George Chan (Maung Maung, ChE66)
* Gordon Kaung (Kaung Kaung Oo, M83)
Gyn Yu (ChE72) — share time in Thailand
Htay Lwin Nyo (EP74, GBNF)
Htin Paw (EE58, GBNF)
Hla Kyaing (M69)
Hla Kyi (EC77)
* Hla Min (EC69)
Htwe Htwe (C8x)
Jimmy Chee (M75)
K C Chiu (ChE63) : moved to SoCal
Khin Mg Myint (C71) — Visit son for a long time
King Wong (Victor, C66)
Ko Ko Zin (M84)
Kyaw Myint (M/Auto64)
Kyaw Myint (M83)
Kyaw San (C6x, GBNF)
Kyi Kong Tham (C63)
Kyi Shane (M83)
L Shark Moon (C67, GBNF)
Lillian Kaung (EC83)
Lyo Kyin Sein (Mabel, T69)
* Maurice Chee (Hla Myint Thein, M75)
Maung Maung (Kyaw Than, EC84)
Maung Maung Moe Zaw (Met02)
Mao Toon Siong (M62)
Mya Mya Sein (T79)
Mya Thwin (Phillip, EE75)
Myat Htoo (C68)
Myint Lwin (Henry Chee, C63, GBNF)
Myint Myint Thein (C77)
Myint Myint Yee (ChE73) : moved to Virginia
Myint Soe (M79)
Myint Swe (EC74)
Myint Thein (M73)
Myint Thein (Soon Hoe, C75)
Myo Aung (M85)
Myo Sint (Mn78)
Ne Win Myint (Victor, ChE66, GBNF)
Nyan Shein (Henry, C68)
Nyo Nyo Win (T73)
* Nyo Win (M65)
Nyunt Than (M86)
Nyunt Tin (M70)
Patrick Fong (C70)
Reynold Wu (Reginald, xxx, GBNF)
Robert Hla Thein (M72)
San Lin (C62)
San Lin (M87)
San Lwin (EC77)
San San Myint (Helen, T69)
San San Nyunt (Sandra, M76)
San San Swe (EC74)
San Tun (M59)
Soe Win (M77)
Thaung Nyunt (M87)
Thein Aung (James, Pet72)
Thein Kyaing (George, T72)
Tin Maung Nyunt (M60)
Tin Maung Win (C86)
Tin Myint (David Ko, M67, GBNF)
Tin Myint (John Lee, M69, GBNF)
Tun Shwe (ChE72) : moved to Virginia
Walter Tan (M70)
Win Htut (M8x)
Zaw Lwin (M87)
Zaw Min (EP70) : moved to Nevada
NOTE :
* specifies Founding Member of RIT Alumni International
by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026
Sampling of people who passed away in 2020
Some succumbed to COVID

by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026


















Alumni in the USA formed “RIT Alumni International” with the main objective of hosting SPZP-2000.

But, it was dormant for some time.











Some alumni participate in BAPS (in Northern California) and BASES (in Southern California).
Saya Dr. Nyo Win, Benny Tan and Maurice Chee are Past Presidents of BAPS.
Saya U Tin Htut and U Tin Htway are co-founders & Past Presidents of BASES. U Tun Aung (Jeffrey), Saya Dr. Chris Lee (L. Tin Tun), Saya Dr. Tin Win, U Khin Maung Lay (Henry) U Thura Thant Zin and U Tin Nwe (Milton) are Past Presidents.
Los Angeles hosted the 2015 Alumni Gathering. Steeve Kay (EC70, Chair of KFF) was the matching sponsor for US $30,000. Saya Dr. Tin Win, Saya U Tin Htut, U Khin Maung Lay and U Thura Thant Zin were core Organizers. U Htaik San (Henry) helped with interviews.
Two mini-gatherings (one in DC area, and another near Niagara Falls) were held for the RIT Alums in East Coast.
Ivan Lee (Khin Maung Oo) has hosted RIT-UCC gatherings for several years. The last gathering was on June 30, 2018. Ivan co-founded MASTAA,
Some alumni are known to have worked or resided in other countries :
by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026





U Win Maung (EE69er) represented RIT in Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo. He is a Back Stroke specialist. He swam the 2000 meters Cross-Lake with Back Stroke. He is known as “Lake” or “Leit” (Tortoise in reference to his Back Stroke swimming). U Htay Aung (M69, Burma Selected) and several others using Front Crawl finish quite ahead of Leit. Before graduation, he went to UK for license & training in air craft maintenance. He joined UBA/BAC. He is now an entrepreneur doing family business.
U Sein Myint (K K Wong, EP69) represented RIT in Rowing, Swimming & Water Polo. Someone transformed his name “Kwet” into “Khwet”. He is a major donor of the 69er Health Care Fund and the EE69er HCF. After retirement, he spends time in Singapore, Yangon and California.
U Htin Kyaw (Peter Wun, MEHS63) worked for the Institute of Economics and UCC before joining HIC and FERD. He was called “Htaw Kyin”. Some British could not pronounce his name. They called him “Ha Htin Coil”.
U Kyaw Nyein (GBNF) taught Numerical Methods & Numerical Analysis at UCC. He played soccer and volley ball. He was fondly called “Kyein”.
U Mya Thein (GBNF) taught at the Institute of Economics, UCC and ITMBU. He was originally called “Bogyoke” and later became known as “Bo Shoke”.
U Thein Oo taught at the Institute of Economics and UCC. His friends called him “Ah Thay Lay”. He was good at volleyball, table tennis and cards.
U Kyaw Zan Hein (C69, GBNF) was admitted to the 2nd BE in 1964 as Roll Number 14. There were no word processors in those days; only the use of cyclostyle (Gestener). So, when the person who was admitted as Roll Number 14 did not join RIT, the Admin Office typed in Shwee’s name instead. Some would call him Kyaw Zan Shwee.
U Hla Min (L T Gwan, SPHS64, EP70, GBNF) joined UCC as Chief Operator. He was called CO by his colleagues and “Pauk Si” by his close friends. His father loaned money to a Pauk Si vendor, who did not pay back the loan. At break time at SPHS, he would get Pauk Si from the vendor.
Daw Aye Aye Than (ChE72) is the sister of Sayama Dr. Hla Hla Sein (Maths) and Ma Myint Myint Sein (Diana, M70). Her friends called her Pauk Pauk.
U Myint Maung (EP69) is one of the young 69ers and one of the few Eligible Bachelors. He represented RIT EE Department in Volleyball along with Saw Edison, U Aye Thein & U Maung Maung. He was called “Bu” in reference to “Minbu” (his home town).
U Khin Maung Myint (C69, GBNF) was called Shastri (former Prime Minister of India).
U Ohn Thwin (PPFC, GBNF) attended classes at UCC & BARB. He was called “Ohn Thee” (Coconut) by his friends.

U Ko Gyi was a Lecturing Tutor in Maths. He is known for reciting the first 100 digits of PI (a constant which is 3.14159265 …). He used Rocket as an example in his classes. For some reason, he named Tin Tin Myint (Emma, ChE70) as “Rocket”. Classmates who witnessed the naming might provide details.
Emma is co-founder of Triple Gems Publication. She is also co-founder of Dana Sri Lanka (DSL). She is called Mae Daw Gyi မယ်တော်ကြီး by the young monks studying in Sri Lanka.
It is a form of “Kala” or “Kular” (Person of dark color).
Some young dark skinned kids (e.g. Aye Win Hlaing (Abel, EE72)) are given the nickname “La La”.
He was a Nigerian student who led demonstrations in front of the US Embassy in Rangoon (in our younger days).
U Moe Hein (ChE69) represented RIT in swimming & water polo. He has a loud voice (which is very helpful in supporting RIT athletes in the Inter-Institute Tournaments). He is called Ajala by his close friends.

U Khin Maung Lay (M70) represented RIT in soccer. He was emcee (Master of Ceremonies) at the Reunion & Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65. He was a member of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission. He is the son of U Khin Maung Latt (AFPFL Minister) and younger brother of Saya U Khin Maung Gyi (English, GBNF).
Several alumni are called “Phone Gyi” (Monk) by their friends.




I know some people named Kyet Taw. They may have “Taw” in their names.

It is the name of a cartoon character. It literally means “Golden, Bald Head”. Toe Nyunt (Ted Mya Maung) starred in a movie of that name.
U Wynn Htain Oo (M72) is a super fund raiser is fondly known as “Shwe Gaung Byaung”. He is also known as

by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026



by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026
Ivan Lee (Khin Maung Oo, M69) had hosted IT and UCC mini-gathering in New Jersey for a decade or so.
The timing was chosen so that Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi (Canada) and Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC) could participate.
The group photo was taken at the gathering on August 19, 2017.

by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026




Even in his late 80’s, Saya had an active mind and a burning desire to payback to Myanmar.
He supervised Burmese students in Australia with their research and theses.
He studied Mathematics at Mandalay University. His contemporaries include Dr. Maung Di and U Khin Maung Tint (Tekkatho Phone Naing).
He did graduate studies at Imperial College (University of London) , Glasgow University and the University of Liverpool in the UK.
During his studies at Imperial College, Saya U Ba Than (Retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering, RIT, GBNF) was his room mate.
Saya was Head of Mathematics Department at the Institute of Economics when he proposed to the Ministry of Education to acquire a computer for research and teaching. Dr. Nyi Nyi requested saya to extend the scope of his proposal to cover selected universities and institutes. The UCC project was born.
It would take several years before UNDP would approve to fund the UCC project. UNESCO would act as the Executing Agency.
Dr. Chit Swe succeeded U Ba Toke as Professor of Mathematics Department at RASU. He recruited volunteers to help plan for the implementation of UCC. He received permission to use Mandalay Hall as the temporary home for UCC.
Sayas — Dr. Chit Swe, U Soe Paing, U Myo Min, U Ko Ko Lay and several others — conducted courses on Computer Fundamentals & Programming, Systems Analysis and Design, and Numerical Methods.
UCC moved over to Thamaing College Campus as a neighbor to RC2 (Regional College Two). Dr. Chit Swe became the Founder and Director of UCC. U Soe Paing, U Myo Min and U Ko Ko Lay became Managers in charge of Systems Division, Applications Division, and Operations Division.
After reorganization, Applications Division was split into Business Applications Division and Scientific Applications Division.
Saya was a pioneer and an advocate of “Technology Transfer”, “Leapfrogging Technology”, “Knowledge Sharing”, and TOSS (Team of System Specialists).
Saya is modest. During a trip to Chauk Htat Yone (Six Storey Office), the admin would “ignore” him and would pay respect to Ko Myint Oo (his student and volunteer assistant), who was well dressed and was carrying a suitcase.
Saya insisted a Component in the UCC Project Plan to invite the elite Computer Scientists and Practitioners including
(a) two Past Presidents of the prestigious ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) : Professor Harry Huskey (UCSC) and Professor Anthony Ralston (SUNY Buffalo),
(b) a future ACM Turing Award Winner (considered as the Nobel Prize for Computing) : Professor Michael Stonebraker (UCB) to UCC and jump start courses in Computer Science and Applications.
Saya thought that I had served as an Editor for a newspaper. I had written articles, poems and translations for Guardian, WPD (Working People’s Daily) newspapers and Forward Magazine.
Upon learning that I was an RIT graduate volunteering for the UCC Project Maung Thaw Ka (Bohmu Ba Thaw, Chief Editor of Forward Magazine, GBNF) suggested that I should join his staff.
In my 3rd BE, editors from NAB (News Agency Burma) headed by Tet Toe (U Ohn Pe, Chief Editor) invited me to join their staff.
My parents supported my hobbies, but they wanted to make sure that I have a good education and a decent job.
I became a writer for Saya’s projects:
Saya believed in me and gave the opportunity to take challenges.
After UCC, Saya served as Rector of RASU, but his passion for his “Dream Child” and his care for his former students never diminished.
After retirement, Saya taught at Assumption University — formerly known as ABAC (Assumption Business and Accounting College) — in Bangkok, Thailand.
Saya later relocated to Sydney, Australia and served as Visiting Professor of Macquarie University. Several Burmese completed their doctorates under his supervision.
In June 2006, I visited Sydney, Australia to attend several gatherings:
Saya asked me to give a lecture or seminar to interested young people in Sydney. He then presented me with his hat. I hope that Saya’s hat can “transfer” his brilliant thinking into my head.
In the past years, Saya visited Singapore and Myanmar and shared his wisdom, knowledge and experience.
He has minor health problems, but his mind is sharp as ever.

Dr. San Tint (EE61) was my saya at RIT. He served as External Examiner for Computer Science students at UCC and DCS.
U Shein Soe Myint (EC83) is a classmate of U Thaung Tin (KMD, former Minister) and my cousin nephew U Thar Hlaing. He joined UCC, DCS and ICST as a graduate student, engineer and later saya. He was studying for his doctorate at NUS when he unexpectedly passed away.
The picture was taken at a mini-reunion of RIT & UCC alumni during my visit to Singapore.



He received Sc.D. (Doctor of Science) from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). At MIT, Saya helped “fresh” scholars including Saya Dr. Aung Gyi and Saya U Min Wun acclimatize with the environment and studies.
He served as DG (Director General) of UBARI (Union of Burma Applied Research Institute) and Advisor for the Ministry of National Planning. He was a supporter of UCC Project and served as a member of the Board of Directors and as an External Examiner for the Computer Science graduates.
Daw Myint Thwe (Saya’s spouse) is the sister of Saya U Tin U (C), Saya U Ba Than (M, GBND), Dr. Daw Win Hlaing, Dr Myo Tint (GBNF), U Tin Htoon (A60), Saya U Myo Min (UCC), U Thaung Lwin (EC66) and Daw Cho Cho Hlaing.
Saya’s children — Ma Tin Tin Hlaing and Ko Tha Hlaing (EC83) — are UCC alumni.
During my visit to Sydney (Australia) in 2006, Saya U Aung Zaw hosted a UCC reunion and mini-PZP (Pu Zaw Pwe) for Saya Dr. F Ba Hli and Saya Dr. Chit Swe. Saya Chit gave me his hat. Ko Tha Hlaing gave me a book “This is Sydney”.
Ko Htay Aung (Victor, EC80) is a nephew of Saya U Sein Hlaing. He is the spouse of Ma Tin Tin Hlaing (Saya FBH’s daughter). Ko Htay Aung and team “programmed” a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) to print Burmese characters on the Cromemco System Three micro-computer. He worked on Burmese Word Processing for Wang Computers. He migrated to Australia. For the past few years, he came back to Yangon to volunteer as an interpreter for the “10-day Mediation Retreat for Foreign Yogis” at the Mahasi Sasana Yeik Tha.
by Hla Min
Updated : Apr 2026
Some holidays
Grapevine says that some holy days are preceded by some “fun events”.
