Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

• History of Myanmar Engineering Education (HMEE) was published in 2012.
• Saya U Aung Hla Tun was the Lead for the project.
  Saya served as Chief Editor of the RIT Annual Magazines.
  He won the National Literary Award.
• U Ohn Khine (M70) and I compiled the CD Supplement for the HMEE book.
  
• Saya transferred the Copyright of the book to YTU and/or ARITA.

HMEE 2018

• Old Paulians’ Association
• Burmese American Professionals Society
• RIT Alumni International
• Toastmasters International
• Miscellaneous

Old Paulians’ Association

• On June 30, 1963, the OPA (Old Paulians Association) invited the top students from the Matriculation to attend the dinner.
• I stood 7th in the whole of Burma in the Matriculation examination held in May 1963.

Burmese American Professionals Society

• Lifetime Member of BAPS
• Volunteered as a Contributing Editor of the BAPS Newsletter.

RIT Alumni International

• Founding member of RIT Alumni International.
• Served as Chief Editor of the RIT Alumni International Newsletter for 22+ years.
• A commemorative edition of the Newsletter was published for SPZP-2000.

Soon Kyway in 2016

• In August 2016, U Maurice Chee (M75) organized a birthday soon kwyay at Dhammananda Vihara, Half Moon Bay, California.
• On behalf of the Alumni, Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) presented the “Alumni Appreciation Award”.

Retirement Soon Kway of Ko Maurice Chee

• Ko Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) designed the first RIT web site.
  He came down from Seattle to attend the Retirement Soon Kway of Ko Maurice Chee (M75).
• The picture was taken at a sea food restaurant overlooking the San Francisco Bay (within sight of SFO — San Francisco International Airport).
• Ko Benny Tan (M70), Ko Maurice and Ko KMZ are Core Organizers of SPZP-2000.

Toastmasters International

• I am a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM)

Miscellaneous

• Past Vice President of TBSA
  Editor, Dhammananda Newsletter
  Master of Ceremonies, Memorial Service for Sayadaw U Silannanda
  Contributing Editor, “Paying Homage to Sayadaw U Silananda”
• Founding Member of NorCal RITAA
  Board of Director
• Life Member of ARATA, Myanmar
• Member of Professional Societies

RIT and its successors have produced many distinguished authors and/or Laureate Poets.

Tekkatho Moe War

Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War, EE 63)’s works include

• Editor of RUESU (Rangoon University Engineering Students Union) Magazine
• Chief Editor of “Hlyat Sit Sar Saung” (published the EE Association)
• Chief Editor of RIT Annual Magazines (for a decade or so)
• Chief Editor of commemorative “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” (for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007, and SPZP-2010)
• Chief Editor of commemorative “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” (for Shwe YaDu and SPZP-2016)
• “Swel Daw Yeik Foundation News/Updates”
• Articles and Poems in newspapers, journals, magazines
• Author and/or Co-author of Books (Poems, Articles)

Ma Sandar

Daw Cho Cho Tin (Ma Sandar, A 71) won several National Literary Awards. She donated several of her books to SPZP-2012, the Golden Jubilee, and selected “G Hall Thus”. Her spouse, U San Maung (A 7x) served as an editor of the “GJ” issue for the combined 1st BE intake of ’64 and ’65.

U Myint Pe

U Myint Pe (“Cartoon”, “Lushwindaw Seik Kyi”, M 72) is a co-founder of the famed “RIT Cartoon Box” with Saya U Khin Maung Phone Ko (“Phone Ko”, C 64) and Saya U Aung Myint (“Kyant Ba Hone”, Pet 69). He and fellow “Cartoon Box” alums (such as Mann Be (a) Aw Pi Kye) compiled a commemorative book for SPZP-2012 and a commemorative pamphlet for GJ.

U Thiha Latt

Saya U Thiha Latt (T8x) is a Cartoon Box alum. He coordinated the publishing/printing of “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine”, “Cartoon Selections”, “History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar”, …

Other Notable Authors, Poets and Composers

• N. Jar Thaing served as contributing author & editorial adviser of various RIT publications.
• Maung Sein Win (Padeegone)
• Saya U Taing Oke (“Yin Maung”)
• Saya U Thet Lwin (composer of “Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo Kun Yeik Kho”)
• Ko Ko (Hset Hmu)
• Saya U Nyunt Htay
• Saya U Aung Myaing
• U Toe Aung

In November 1964, the RIT English Department was established to teach first year and second year B.E and B. Arch

• Sayama Terry (Daw Yin Yin Mya) was Assistant Lecturer and Head of the Department.
  She was a Beauty Queen.
  She migrated to Australia.
  
• Sayama Daw Sheila Saing was Assistant Lecturer and Deputy Head of the Department.
  Spouse : Dr. Zin Aung (Physics)
  Siblings : Dr. Harry Saing (Htut Saing), Dr. Victor Saing (Aye Kyaw), Dr. Shirley Saing (Khin Kyi Ohn)
  Saya and Sayama moved to Thailand and taught at Assumption University.
  
• Sayama Naw Charity Sein U later became Head of the RIT English Department.
  Met her briefly at SPZP-2012.
  
• Sayama Toni Than is a cousin of Ko Thet Tun (Henry, M 75).
  Parents : U Sett Khaing and Daw Sarah Tin Gyi
  Spouse : U Nyi Than (retired Ambassador)
  Youngest aunt : Dr. Khin Kyi Nyunt (Cherry Tin Gyi), spouse of Saya U Tin U. Khamee Khamet : Saya U Win Mra.
  Met her briefly at SPZP-2012 and several times in 2019.
  
• Sayama Daw Khin Saw Tint (Ann) published several books/booklets.
  Bilingual author.
  Wrote an article about her mother and two aunts.
  Parents : ICS U Ba Tint and Daw Khin Saw Mu (Khit San Kabyar)
  Uncles : ICS U Tin Tut, U Kyaw Myint U Myint Thein Dr. Htin Aung
  Brother : U Nay Oke Tint (St. Paul’s)
  
• Met Sayama Muriel
  Spouse : Saya U Aung (Alphoso)
  They visited Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt in Milpitas, California.
  We had a couple of lunch gatherings.
  
• Saya Des
  Named Desmond Rodgers
  Prefers to be called Des
  Our main English teacher in 2nd BE.
  Chief Editor of the RIT English Association Newsletter.
  Core organizer of the Debates between the 1st BE and 2nd BE students.
  Played soccer for the RIT Saya team.
  Accomplished musician : guitarist and vocalist, a regular on the BBS Variety Show. Played and sang with Saya U Win Mra (Burma’s Elvis Presley in his younger days).
  
  Scrabble Champion at the tournaments held at Guardian premises and YMCA
  Moved to UK and Canada
  Taught “English as a Specialty Language”
  Published two books
  Wrote a long article for “RIT Alumni International Newsletter“.

.Scrabble Champion for both singles and doubles.Did post-graduate studies in the UK.Moved to Canada.Taught “English as a Specialty Language” and other English courses.Set up a consultancy firmPublished a book on English words that have been “selected” from contemporary news media and magazines. I helped catch some typos (which would go into an amendment).Saya air-mailed me the book, but I received an opened package from the Post. Saya sent again with “registered” post (including insurance). It cost more than the sales price of the book. Thanks.Had minor medical problems.Shared his memories in the RIT Alumni International Newsletter.

• Saya U Khin
  Scrabble Champion at the tournaments held at Guardian premises and YMCA
  Organizer, RIT Scrabble
  Chambers Dictionary and Jones Pronouncing Dictionary were used to confirm/deny the word challenges. They were always present on Saya’s desk.
  Moved to Taiwan
  Wrote a letter in 2016.
  
• Saya U Win Mra was the fourth son ICS U Shwe Mra (Chief Secretary, later UN expert).
  Burma’s Pole Vault Champion before he was asked to “retire” by the doctors.
  He and Saya Des played guitars and sang (e.g. BBS Variety Show).
  Won or placed in Burma’s Elvis Presley contest.
  Joined the Foreign Service.
  He was Myanmar’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
  He is Chair of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission.
  
• Saya Joe Ba Maung was Burma’s Tennis Champion in Singles, Mens’ Doubles (with U Than Lwin) and Mixed Doubles (with Sayama Daw Ruby Kha).
  Saya joined Burma Railways.
  He was a victim of 8-8-88 purges.
  
• Khemarat was the pen name of Saya Sao Kangyi Tony).
  Brothers : Sao Yan Naing, Sao Yan Paing
  
• Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla transferred to UNDP.
  Brother : U Kyaw Lwin Hla

U Khin’s Letter

Dear Hla Min,

I have been an ardent “fan” of your RIT Newsletter updates ever since you included me in your mailing list at the suggestion of Des Rodgers many many years ago.

You have made a great contribution to the RIT community by bringing the RIT alumni, sayas and sayamas together through your reports, messages, photos, etc. in the RIT Newsletter and also through your persistent efforts in carrying on the good work against all odds. Who is going to fill your shoes after you retire?

I spent the best years of my life (1964 ~ 1968) at the RIT and I cherish the good old days I had at the RIT with my former colleagues at the English Department such as Saya Desmond Rodgers, Saya U Win Mra, Saya U Joe Ba Maung, Saya Sao Kangyi (deceased), Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla, Sayama Daw Tin Tin Mya (Terry), Sayama Daw Charity Sein U, Sayama Daw Khin May Lwin (Muriel), Sayama Daw Tin Tin Oo (Toni), Sayama Daw Khin Saw Tint (Anne), among others; my former colleagues at other engineering departments and non-engineering departments such as Saya U Tin Maung (Civil), Saya U Christopher Maung (Civil), Saya Allen Htay (civil), Saya Dr K.C. Khoo (Chemical), among others; and my former students Tin Tin Myint (Emma), Khin Phyu Latt (Christine), Tin Tin Hla (Su Tin), Sai Kham Sang, Pamela Myo Min, George Lim, among others.

I hope you will have a great time at the birthday party that will be hosted in your honor on August 20th (2016) at Half Moon Bay, California, by your former classmates, colleagues, sayas and sayamas.

I shall also be wishing you a happy birthday in absentia from this part of the world, and hope you will have many happy and healthy returns of the day in the years to come.

Sincerely yours,

Lucian Chen (Saya U Khin)

Three Sisters

Article about Daw Khin Mya Mu, Daw Khin Saw Mu and Daw Tin Saw Mu

by Daw Khin Saw Tint