Category: UCC

• Some taught at RIT and UCC. e.g Saya U Soe Paing
• Some worked at RIT and UCC. e.g U Aung Myint (GBNF).
• Some RIT alumni worked at UCC.
• Some RIT alumni attended UCC courses.
• Some are alumni of UCC but not RIT.

Family

• Parents : U and Mrs. Po Tha
• Siblings : U Than Htut (M67, RUBC Gold), Maw (BDS), Zaw (IM(1), RUBC Gold, GBNF) and three sisters
• Spouse : Daw Betty Tun Aung
• Children : One daughter, two sons

Education

• Matriculated from St. Paul’s High School in 1956
• Attended RU Faculty of Engineering briefly
• Received State Scholarship to study Civil Engineering at Stanford University
• Received BSCE and MSCE from Stanford University, USA
• (Later) Received Masters in Systems Engineering from Lancaster University, UK

Work Experience

• Joined PWD as Assistant Engineer
• Helped Saya Dr. Chit Swe found UCC.
• Transferred to UCC as Operations Manager.
• After the reorganization of UCC, he became Manager of the Scientific Applications Division.
• Professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Rangoon.
• Professor of Information Science and Technology at the Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST)

Hobbies & Skills

• Played volleyball, soccer, ping pong and tennis with UCC staff and students.
• Excellent English and Editing

Distinction

• He had the longest tenure at UCC among the founders.
• He was the earliest to pass away.

ထွန်း အောင် ကျော်

• At UCC he was called Saya TAG (based on initials of his full name Tun Aung Gyaw).
• There is no unique way of writing Burmese names in English. Tun Aung Gyaw (TAG) and Htun Aung Kyaw (HAK) represent the same Burmese name.

• His father (U Tun Hlaing) was a lawyer, a teacher and an expert in astrology. He chose to name his first surviving child using the naming convention for a name with three parts. DOW (Day of week) for U TAG’s birthday is Sunday. (DOW -1) precedes DOW. For U TAG it would be Saturday. (DOW + 1) follows DOW. For U TAG it would be Monday.
• The three-part name would be (DOW – 1) followed by DOW followed by (DOW + 1).
  For U TAG, the name would be Tun (for Saturday) Aung (for Sunday) Gyaw (for Monday).
• Most Burmese names with two parts use one of the following :
  DOW followed by (DOW + 1), which is most common,
  DOW followed by (DOW + 3) or (DOW + 4).
• The use of naming conventions based on Numerology and/or Astrology results in many Burmese sharing the same name.

• He matriculated from Ma Hlaing (Meiktila) in 1963. He received a Collegiate Scholarship and studied I.Sc.(A) at Mandalay University.
• In November 1964, under the then new Education System, he was admitted to the first ever 2nd BE (Bachelor of Engineering) class at RIT (Rangoon Institute of Technology).
• He majored in Electrical Engineering with the EC (Electrical Communications) option. He graduated at the top of his class in 1969.
• He could have chosen to join several departments (such as RIT, MOC, PTC, BBS), but he decided to join the UCC Project as a volunteer (unpaid initially, and later a small daily allowance). It was a noble sacrifice.
• He learned several subjects on Computers and Computing. He taught the course “A First Course in Computer Science” based on the book by Forsythe et. al. The course used “Flow Charts” and Programming.
• He was determined to excel in Computer Science and complete Ph.D. (if there is an opportunity).
• He joined UCC as an early employee and headed the Engineering team (under the Systems Division Manager Saya U Soe Paing).
• Saya Dr. Chit Swe offered him 24 + months of UN Fellowship : first for Hardware Training at ICLETC (International Computers Limited Engineering Training Center) and then study for M.Sc. (Computer Science) at the now defunct ICS (Institute of Computer Science), University of London.
• The higher authorities ruled that the Hardware Engineers should be present at the installation and commissioning of the ICL Computer System and then stay on to maintain the system. Saya TAG must have felt intense pain.
• Saya served as Senior Engineer, Manager of Systems Division, UN advisor at a Computer Center in Bangladesh, Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science),Associate Professor and Head of Hardware at the Institute of Computer Science and Technology.
• He wanted to pursue his academic dream, but again the higher authorities ruled that he must go for a higher paying fellowship, but forgo his academic dreams.
• His perseverance paid off with a Ph.D in Computer Science from UIUC (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign).
• He is a workaholic. He worked on multiple projects. He even worked during his younger son’s wedding and reception at Cape Cod.
• He and his spouse Daw Khin Khin Maw have celebrated their Golden Anniversary with their five children (two sons and three daughters) and six grandchildren.

Memories

England, UK

He attended the ICLETC (International Computer Limited Training Center). During the break, he visited Salisbury, Stone Henge, Southampton and a Safari Park.

UCC Thingyan

He participated in the UCC Yahan Khan and practiced meditation at the Kaba Aye Sunlun Gu Kyaung monastery.

Celebrations

He and Daw Khin Maw Maw celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 2022.

They have two sons, three daughters and six grandchildren.

Host

He hosted Ivan Lee (M69), Frederick Thetgyi (M69), me and my spouse. He showed us around MIT and Yale University.

Guest Speaker

In 2024, NABEA (North America Burmese Engineers Association) invited him to be a Guest Speaker at the Conference in Houston, Texas. He spoke about the “Impact of Artificial Intelligence”.

During my visit to Yangon, some UCC colleagues hosted a Lunch gathering at Kone Myint Tha, 8th Mile.

• Four of them have MYINT in their names.
• The hosts were U Sein Myint and U Soe Myint. Both are UN Retirees.
• The guests included U Aung Myint (GBNF), U Win Myint and Daw Nu Nu Aung.
• U Aung Myint was caught in the traffic. So, he is not in the picture. In a previous visit U Aung Myint and his son Ko Aung Khine Cho took us to Tanyin (Syriam).

• Thanks to all the four MYINTs.

After the lunch gathering, we walked to Saya U Soe Paing’s house and paid respect to Saya.

Su Paung Yahan Khan

Thingyan (Burmese New Year) was often celebrated by UCC staff and students with “Su Paung Yahan Khan”.

The Yahan Khan was performed at a selected monastery such as

• Kaba Aye Sunlun Gu Kyaung
• Mo Hnyin Taw Ya
• Chan Myay Yeiktha

Resident Monks (UCC Staff and/or Student)

Photo was taken in front of the UCC Building in Thamaing College Campus.

• Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe (GBNF)
• U Win Maung
• U Hla Min
• U Tun Aung Gyaw
• U Soe Myint (GBNF)
• U Khin Maung Aye
• Daw Khin Khin Latt †††
  
  U Tun Aung Gyaw (USA), U Khin Maung Aye (Singapore) and U Win Maung (Australia) are now Ph.Ds.

Soon Kyway

• Photo shows the UCC Donlabas with a resident monk from Kaba Aye Sunlun Gu Kyaung.
• There were two U Soe Myint at UCC.
• U Soe Myint (M72) retired as Pro-Rector of ICST.
  He is GBNF.
• U Soe Myint (KSM) retired from UN.

Saya U Ko Ko Lay and UCC Belles

• Saya U Ko Ko Lay served as Operations Manager and Scientific Applications Manager at UCC. He later served as Professor at the Department of Computer Science (DCS) and the Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST).
  He is GBNF
  
• Some UCC Belles worked or taught at UCC, DCS and ICST.
  Some worked for Computer Departments at other organizations (including UN and overseas).
  
• Daw Nge Ma Ma Than was a Prisoner of Conscience.
  She is GBNF

Entertainment

UCC also had a Dobat Waing organized by U Win Hlaing.

• Some sayas and alumni worked or volunteered at UCC.
• Saya U Sein Win served as Technical Advisor for UCC.
• Saya Dr. San Tint and Saya U Shwe Hlaing served as External Examiners at UCC.
• Several sayas and alumni attended courses at UCC.

• I wrote “Memories of UCC” a few years back.
• An article was published for the 30th Anniversary of ICST.
  
• Sad to note that Saya Dr. Chit Swe, U Aung Zaw, U Soe Myint (M72) and several have passed away.

• The photo was taken at the UCC-RIT Gathering hosted by Dr. Rafiul Ahad (UCC) to welcome Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC) to the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Rafiul is now retired VP of Oracle.

UCC Gathering in Cupertino, CA

U Khin Zaw (UCC) and Daw Wai Wai Tun (Physics) hosted a lunch gathering for U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, SPHS70, EC76, UCC) and family.

Attendees include

• Saya U Myo Min (UCC)
• U Myint Swe (EP74) and Daw San San (EC74)
• Maurice Chee (M75) and family
• U Hla Kyi (EC77)
• U Aung Myint Oo (EC84, UCC)
• Dr. Rafiul Ahad (SPHS69, UCC) and spouse
• Dr. Kyaw Tint (Physics)
• U Thein Naing (Patrick, Physics) and Daw Khin Myo Aung (Physics)
• U Hla Min (EC69, SPHS63, UCC) and spouse.
  
• KMZ’s spouse (Daw Khin Khin Latt) is the daughter of U Soe Myint (Chief Editor, Journalist).
• U Soe Myint is the elder brother U Soe Win (EC70), U Kyaw Zaw (EC72) and U Khin Zaw (UCC).
• KMZ is a Microsoft Alumni and resides in Seattle, Washington.
• KMZ designed http://www.ex-rit.org/ web site and served as its web master.

• Maung Toung is one of the 11 EC (Electrical Communication) graduates from the Class of EC69.
  He is a nephew of Saya U Ba Than’s spouse.
• He attended some courses at Mandalay Hall.
• He migrated to the United States.
• He did post graduate studies about the same time as Ko Khin Maung Oo (Ivan, M69).
• Ko Toung lives in Trumbull, Connecticut.
• He is retired and often travels to Hong Kong to spend time with his son and grand child.
  
• His spouse Ma Khin Myint (Kim) had to take Chemistry instead of Medicine (due to the requirements set by the then new Education System).
  She became classmates of Ma Khin Maw Maw (who would later wed Ko Tun Aung Gyaw).
• They would attend the Annual RIT-UCC Gathering hosted by Ivan in New Jersey.
  They would sometimes host a supplementary gathering at their home.
  
• On the return leg of the whirlwind trip to Canada and East Coast, we spent time with Ko Tun Aung Gyaw (who showed us around MIT and Harvard) and Ko Toung (who showed us around Yale).

• Charlie is a classmate of Steeve Kay (Thaung Sein) and Soe Win from the Class of EC70.
• Saya Paing had recruited Charlie Tseng (EC70), but he managed to migrate to the United States before the UCC employees were “selected and validated” by PSC (Public Services Commission).
• He formed a company called VersaSoft (somewhat similar to the D-Base software).
  He later worked for some IT companies
  His spouse Diana (ChE71) is a Chemical Engineer and worked for a Division of IBM (International Business Machines).
• Charlie pays respect to Saya Paing whenever Saya visits the San Francisco Bay Area.
  

• Lucas Lee (Sein Tun, SPHS 66) is a classmate of Ko Myint Lwin (Charlie Cheah, Burma Judo Champion).
• He is a Physics major.
• He volunteered when UCC was stationed at Mandalay Hall in the main campus.
• He migrated to the United States. He joined the armed forces and received training in electronics.
• Later, as a Veteran, he was offered a job at HP (Hewlett Packard).
• He had a liver transplant many years ago and is doing well.
• Met him at the BASES dinner and at the La Puente monastery.

• Tauk Tun (Mike) often shows up at UCC.
  He was friendly with the sayas and several employees.
  
• Myint Oo helped Saya Chit as a personal assistant.
  He later worked at Phoung Gyi Training School.

• Ba Than Aye (Myo Myint Lay, GBNF) volunteered at UCC before joining the army.
  He was fatally injured in a car accident.
  
• There are several more people who spent quality time at UCC.
  
• Have lost contact with them.