RIT Alumni & Associations

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

RIT Alumni helped establish the following Associations in California :

BEA

Burmese / Bay Area Engineers Association

• Saya U Htin Paw (EE58, GBNF) was a founding member of BEA & served as the First President. He was President of TBSA. He wrote articles for RIT Alumni Newsletter & SPZP-2000.

• Saya U San Tun (Sain Fone Wong, M59) succeeded U Htin Paw as President. He invited us to his birthday party & his son’s wedding reception. He had a Stroke. He is recuperating.

• Saya K C Chiu (Dr. Tin Aung, ChE63) succeeded U San Tun as President. He proposed the idea of forming BEA with sayas and alumni in the SF Bay Area. Lily (T73) agreed to be Secretary.

• BEA merged with BASTS into BAPS.

BAPS

Burmese American Professional Society

• Saya U Nyo Win (Dr. K H Chen, M65) served as the first President of BAPS. He also served as Editor of BAPS Newsletter.

• Benny Tan (Tan Yu/Eu Beng, M70) succeeded U Nyo Win as President

• Maurice Chee (U Hla Myint Thein, M75) succeeded Benny Tan as President

• The Three became founding members of RIT Alumni International and Core Organizers for SPZP-2000.

BASES

Burmese American Society for Engineers and Scientists

• Saya U Tin Htut (M60), U Tin Htway (M59) and U “David” Tun Tin founded BASES. They adapted the BAPS bye-laws and added the needs for those in Southern California.

• Several sayas and alumni served President, VP, Secretary, Advisor & EC member. They include U Tin Htway (M59), Saya Dr. Chris Lee (L Tin Htun, EE59), Saya U Tin Htut (M60), Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62), U Tun Aung (Jefferey, EC68), U Aung Khin (EP68), U Tin Nwe (Milton, C68), U Khin Maung Lay (Henry, T68), U Thura Thant Zin (M76) & U Win Naing (Michael, M81)

RIT Alumni International

• Founded by the SF Bay Area Alumni Group led by Saya Allen Htay.

• To host SPZP-2000
• To support RIT Alumni Newsletter (founded by U Hla Min, EC69), and the first RIT website (designed & implemented by U Khin Maung Zaw, EC76).

• Saya Allen served as President.
• Maurice served as Treasurer. He and Benny chaired the Working Committee for SPZP-2000. They wore multiple hats for SPZP-2000.
• Founding members included Saya Allen (C58), Saya K (ChE63), Saya Nyo (M65), Saya George (ChE66), Saya Myat Htoo (C68), Hla Min (EC69), Benny (M70), Saya Thein Aung (Met72), Maurice (M75), KMZ (EC76) and Gordon (M83).

• Several more sayas and alumni (including BAPS and BASES members) volunteered for SPZP-2000.

Norcal RITAA

• Founded to continue the Vision & Mission of RIT Alumni International.

• Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66) served as the first President. Successors : Gordon Kaung (M83), U Aung Myint Oo (EC84) and U Tin Maung Win (C76)

• Stan Liou (M67) served as first Chair of BOD (Board of Directors). Successor : Saya U Myat Htoo (C68)

• Activities: Financial support for children of alumni in Norcal & for eligible YTU students; Support for YTU Library Modernization; Annual Dinner and/or Picnic; Coordinated with BASES for 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

Posts

• Alumni Worldwide
• Associations
• Gatherings
• RITAA
• SPZP