Class of 70

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

• 450+ Matriculates were admitted to 1st BE in November 1964 based on ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate).

Steeve Kay (Thaung Sein, EC70)

• Admitted as Roll No. (8) to 1st BE in Nov 1964.
• Graduated with EC in 1970
• Moved to USA. An immigration officer spelled his name as Steeve instead of Steve. He kept the name with the variant unconventional spelling.
• Masters from Stanford University
• Designer of Power IC Chip
• Per his younger sister’s request, co-founded QTC
• MBA from Pepperdine University
• QTC was bought by an investment company. Steeve became a multi-millionaire
• Established Kay Family Foundation. Steeve became an outstanding philanthropist.
• He never forgot his roots, his alma mater, his mentors and his friends.
• A short biography — summarized as three dreams — was published by the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65, and also in “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”.
• Details can be found in the commemorative issue celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the founding of QTC.

Three Dreams of Steeve Kay

Team Builder

40th Anniversary of arrival in the USA

In 2011, Steeve hosted a gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his arrival in the US. The gathering was coordinated by his daughter Elanor. She arranged a visit to Teehub (which provides incubation for aspiring innovators).

Attendees include :

• Chris Lee, Dr. (EE59) & spouse
• Sam Chin (ChE62) & spouse
• Henry Khoo (EC67)
• Hla Min (EC69) & spouse
• Benny Tan (M70) & spouse
• Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70) & spouse
• Htin Aung (Richard, M70)
• Zaw Htun, Dr. (BDS) & spouse

Benny, Zaw Min & Richard were Steeve’s classmates from RIT.

Henry picked up Steeve on his arrival in San Francisco, California, USA.

Saya Chris Lee, Sam Chin and Dr. Zaw Htun were active in the Burmese American organizations in Southern California.

QTC

His younger sister Dr. Lay Kay had patents related to the medical and legal processes to handle disability claims. She requested Steeve to co-found QTC and serve as CEO.

Two decades later, QTC was bought by a group of investors making the two siblings multi-millionaires.

They did not forget their roots. Steeve set up the Kay Family Foundation. His sister set up the B K Kee Foundation in memory of her mother. Their foundations have provided support for education, medical research, areas inflicted by disasters (e.g. Cyclone Nargis) and much more.

Aspirations & Actions

Steeve took time to trace his roots. He also joined expeditions to visit the holy sites of Four Religions.

He is a Trustee and/or Board Member of several US universities.

He is a Multiple Golden Sponsor for the SPZPs. He set up the “Steeve and Helen Kay Health Care Fund for RIT Sayas and Sayamas”. He hosted a delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology to visit selected universities and research institutions in California.

There were some proposals that did not materialize. He offered to set up a Computing Laboratory and promote Leapfrogging Technology for engineering sayas and students in Myanmar. He offered to provide air fare and expenses for Sayagyis willing to share their experience in Myanmar. He requested some support from the Myanmar side (e.g. taking care of the security and maintenance of the Laboratory and providing accommodation for the visiting Sayagyis), but due to the bureaucracy of the then authorities, the proposals were not materialized.

When his health started to decline, he could not take long trips or wait too long for responses to his proposals. He requested the balance of his Health Care Fund to be transferred to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation.

He delegated his children to run KFF and his enterprise. He still has desires to help his beloved home land. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles, USA

Kay Family Foundation provided $30000 for the Alumni Reunion. Steeve sang Shwe Mi during his presentation.

Sponsorships

He provided the seed money for holding the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (SPZP-2000) in San Francisco. California, USA in October 2000.

He became a Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs.

He established the “Steeve and Helen Kay Health Care Fund for RIT Sayas and Sayamas”. The balance fund has recently been handed over to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation.

He and Kay Family Foundation donated US $200,000+ for RIT-related causes.

He hosted several gatherings in the USA and Yangon.

U Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70)

Zaw Min entered 1st BE as Roll Number One (Top student). He was selected Luyechun for Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the Summer of 1965.

In the USA, he studied Electronics and also changed his name to Zaw Min Nawaday.

He was the main author of the article covering the six years at RIT. U Ohn Khine was the co-author.

The article was first posted in the Google Group for “Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65”. I edited the article.

The revised versions have been published in (a) the Golden Jubilee Magazine for the combined group (b) RIT Updates and (c) hlamin.com website

Benny Tan (Tan Eu Beng, M70)

• Founding member of RIT Alumni International
• Hosted meetings of the San Francisco Bay Area Alumni including the one that led to the formation of RIT Alumni International
• Wore multiple hats for SPZP-2000 — Golden Sponsor; Co-chair of the Working Committee; Designer of SPZP Banner, commemorative Mug, Clock & T-shirt
• Multiple Golden Sponsor for SPZPz and for his class gatherings.
• Wrote “Traveling through the Time Machine”.

U Ohn Khine (M70)

• Volunteer for SDYF, SPZP-2012, Shwe YaDu 2014, SPZP-2016, & HMEE Projects
• Co-authored “RIT Days (1964 – 70)”.
• Translated Section One of HMEE-2012 into English.
• Summarized Section Two of HMEE-2012.
• We compiled the CD Supplement for HMEE book
• He offered me rides during my visits to Yangon (especially to attend meetings for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016 and HMEE-2012).

M70 Class Photo†

• U Aung Khin (Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department) moved to Canada
• U Win Kyaing, U Tin Hlaing (M59) & U Aung Hla Tun are GBNF
• U Phone Myint is enjoying post-retirement by visiting his children overseas.
• U Tin Htut (M60, Past Captain and Gold of RUBC) taught I

• Cho Aye is now
• Benny
• U

1st BE Intake in 1964

Most members of the group graduated in 1970.
Some left RIT before graduation.
A few took Sabbatical and graduated a year or two later.

U Ohn Khine (M70) reports the Gone But Not Forgotten (GBNF) list periodically.

Each entry contains

• Name
• Roll Number in 1st BE
• Major/Discipline
• Date of demise (if known)
• Other name (e.g. nickname)

As of June 30, 2023, there were 125 entries in the GBNF list.

• Cho Aye3 Mech 7/8/18
• Peter Pe 4 Mech
• Victor Jones 41 Civil
• Ne Win 45 Textile
• Tin Ohn 49 Mech
• Naing Win 54 Mech
• Mya Daung 58 Mech(Agri)
• Lay Myint 60 Civil
• Khin Maung Pun 66 Petro ?/10/16
• Myo Thaw 68 5/15
• Aung Kyan 71 Mech (Auto)
• Thet Win 75 Mech
• Hla Min 82 Elec Pauk Si
• Mg Mg Myint 93 Mech Japu Sein
• Soe Tint 94 Civil Nevil Kyi Mg
• Mg Mg Than 97 Mech 8/7/18
• Le Le Win 100 Mech Lilian Tha Mya
• Nan Lwin 102 Elec
• Myat Khine 104 Mech Tha Aye
• Han Kyu Pe 110 Archi
• Than Tun 114 Mech (Agri) Ivan Win
• Aung Win 120 Chemical
• Aye Thin 122 Chemical
• Chit Khin 124 Archi 23/6/15
• Than Sein 130 Mech
• Aung Kyi 135 Mech
• Khin Mg Saan 139 Civil
• Ko Ko Tin 141 Mech Winston Hla Mg
• Saw Pae Pae 143 Met
• Win Maw (George Hock) 146
• Ma Yin Shwe Tun 150 Textile
• Myat Myat Moe 154 Archi
• Ma Htay Htay Win 158 Chemical Marlene Mg Mg
• Than Myint 168 23/1/13
• Myint Thein 172 Mech
• Phone Thwin 177 Mining
• Than Nyunt Win 181 Civil
• Khin Mg Kyu 183 Mech
• Win Thein 185 Elec
• Ma Khin Mya Oo 188 Met
• Kyaw Naing 191 Elec Sin Gwan
• Mg Mg Yu 194 Mech (Agri)
• Tin Aye 195 Mech (Agri)
• Htike Nyan 198 Elec 26/10/15
• Aung Khin 203 Mech
• Kyi May Nwae 206 Met
• Tin Win 209 Chemical
• Myat Swe (Myint Swe) 215 Electrical 22/3/15
• Kyaw Win Mhan 234 Arch
• Ma Yaw Ze 243 Chemical
• Hla Shwe 247 Mech Lar Gyi
• Min Thant 254 Elec Maurice Bo Ni
• Tin Win 256 Mevh Arthur
• Aung Htay 277 Civil
• Michael Shein Myint 280 Chemical
• Mar Mar 292 Civil
• Thein Htun 304 Mech 29/8/18
• Mg Mg Oo 312 PP
• Myo Tint 313 PP Stanley Hla
• Mg Mg Swe 314 Mech ?/1/18
• Min Swe 318 Mech
• Ye Myint Aung 323 Mech
• Toe Nyunt 326 Elec
• Tin Ko 330 Met
• Aung Law Ha 342 Mn 30/1/16
• Ma Tin Tin 348 Mech (Agri)
• Kyaw Swe Thet 354 Mech 2017
• Kan Myint 371 Mech
• Aye Than 385 Elec 25/4/16
• Khin Soe 388
• Khin Than Win 389 Textile 3/9/18
• Maung Maung 398 Textile 31/8/14
• John Krasu 402 Mar 2016
• Shein Kee Gae 407 Elec
• Ohn Kywe 408 Elec
• Kan Win 409 Mech
• Win Aung 413
• Onward Taw 419
• Sein Sein 418 Textile 19/2/15
• Tin Oo 428 Archi
• Nay Daung 435 Civil
• Oo Myint 445 Mining
• Khin Mg Shwe 446 Kenneth
• Thein Han 463 Elec 18/5/12
• Hla Kyaing 467 Mining
• Tin Win 475
• Zaw Nyein 482 Tex 10/2/14
• Myo Nyunt Saw 485 Elec
• Mya Thaung 487 Mining Ye Baw Pae Hlaw
• Sai Maung Lin 73 Mech
• Maung Myint 332 Tex
• Htay Lwin 367
• Stanley Lim 51
• Aye Win Kyaw 169 Civil
• Zin Maung Oo 328 Civil
• Khin Nyo 352