Paying back to my alma mater

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

• Studied five years at RIT from 1964 to 1969
• Have spent 27 years (from 1999) paying back to my alma mater & my mentors
• Thanks to my family members for their support.

1963

• Received award given by SPHS for passing Matriculation (7th in Burma)
  Won Collegiate Scholarship

• Attended the last ever I.Sc.(A) at Leik Khone
• Senior Novices Runner-up at RUBC Monsoon Regatta with Willie Soe Maung (Stroke, GBNF), Kyaw Wynn (3), Maung Maung Kyi (Bow, GBNF) & Myint Thein (Cox, GBNF)
• Attended RUBC 40th Anniversary Dinner hosted by Sithu U Tin (President, GBNF) at Kandawgyi
• Received Full Green

1964 – 1969

• Admitted to the first ever 2nd BE in November 1964 as the Top Student

• Selected RIT Luyechun in the Summer of 1965 and attended the LYC Camp at Inlay Khaung Daing.

• Joint Secretary, Secretary & Magazine Committee, RIT EE Association

• Treasurer and Vice Captain, RUBC
• Editor, Newsletter published by RIT English Association
• Started free lance writing (article, poem, translation …)
• My poem “Men on the Moon” was published in the Guardian in July 1969

1970 – 1998

• Generation Zero member of UCC (Universities’ Comouter Center)
  Hardware & Software Engineer
  Senior Systems Programmer
  Manager, Business Applications

• Senior Lecturer, Computer Science, DCS (Department of Computer Science)
• Associate Professor, Software Technology, ICST (Institute of Computer Science and Technology)
• Worked for several high tech companies in Silicon Valley

1999

• Started “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”
• It started with the news and photos of some gatherings back in Burma. (a) 30th Anniversary of the Graduation of the Class of 69 [reported by Ko Daniel Tint Lwin and Ma Saw Yu Tint (Alice). (b) Mini-gathering with Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and other sayas and senior alumni (reported by Saya U Soe Paing)

2000

• SPZP-2000
  First RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in San Francisco, USA
  Core Organizer
• Content Provider & Editor for the First RIT Web Site designed and implemented y KMZ / Khin Maung Zaw (EC76)
• Special Web Pages for SPZP-2000
• Commemorative Issue of the Newsletter for SPZP-2000
  Chief Editor)
  Composed “SAYA PUZAW PWE” poem
• 64 Countdown to the Reunion posts
• 36 Post-Reunion posts

2002

• SPZP-2002
  Second RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung”
  by Saya U Moe Aung and team
  Reprinted my “SAYA PUZAW PWE” poem as Back Cover

2004

• SPZP-2004
  Third RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon
• Mild earthquake did not rattle the attendees

2007

• SPZP-2007
  Fourth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung”
  by Saya U Moe Aung and team
  Contributed a poem “SWE DAW YEIK”

2010

• SPZP-2010
  Fifth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung”
  by Saya U Moe Aung and team
  Contributed an article “Sad and short clip — EE sayas”

2012

• SPZP-2012
  Sixth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon
  Traveled twice (in March and December) to help with the SPZP
• True “Home Coming” in the Gyogone Campus

• Special publication : History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar by Saya U Aung Hla Tun and team. Ko Ohn Khine (M70) and I prepared the supplemental CD for the book.
• Special publication: Selected RIT Cartoons
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” by U Saw Lin and team
• Reprints: Limited number of RIT Annual Magazines

2013

• Swel Daw Yeik Foundation
• Contributions for various projects
• Health care for the sayas and sayamas
• “Saya Geha” as long term project
• Contributing Editor
  RUBC 90th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine

2014

• Shwe YaDu
• 50th Anniversary of the opening of RIT in 1964
• Planted 50 Swel Daw Bins
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” by Saya U Moe Aung and team; I wrote an article “Recollections of a 69er”

• Paved Shwe YaDu lane and set up Swel Daw Yeik benches
• Translated Saya U Moe Aung’s Shwe YaDu poem

2016

• RIT/YIT/YTU Alumni Association
  Life Member
• SPZP-2016
  Seventh RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon
• 10000+ attendees
• Free food and fun (all day and all night long)
• Platinum Jubilee for the Class of 69
  Hosted by some 69ers for their friends (in their sunset)

• Soonkway at Half Moon Bay Monastery (organized by U Maurice Chee)
  Received Alumni Appreciation Award from alumni worldwide
• Annual Dinner by Northern California RIT Alumni Association
  Received plaque signed by Saya U Myat Htoo (Chair, BOD), U Kaung Kaung Oo (Gordon, President), and U Thaung Nyunt (Secretary)

• Attended SPZP-2016 and Platinum Jubilee of the Class of 69

2017

• Attended Post-SPZP2016 Gatherings

• Award
  Distinguished Toastmaster

2018

• Memories of UCC
  40+ posts
• Trivia : 1000+ posts (on going)
  Several readers said that the posts are more than Trivia
• Archived newsletters and posts in my website
  hlamin.com

2019

• Panelist, 5th Irrawaddy Literary Festival

• Golden Jubilee, RIT 69ers

• Attended several gatherings and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwes

2020

• Invited to join the PSA 2020 Tour to Upper Burma
• Broadcast Short talks (Videos)
  Archived in Facebook and Youtube
• Moderator & Contributor
  RU Centennial Facebook Group

2021 – 2023

• Due to pandemic, outdoor activities were put on hold
• Overseas travel required certificate of Covid vaccine
• Revise articles
• Write new articles
• Short Trips to Singapore, Thailand & Laos

2024 – present

• In 2024, we celebrated (a) Centennial of Engineering Education in Burma / Myanmar (b) 60th Anniversary of RIT (c) Silver Jubilee of RIT Alumni Newsletter

• In 2025, updating posts.
• My educational videos can be accessed from YouTube. Search for @hmin3664