Matriculated from MEHS (Methodist English High School) in 1960
Graduated with ChE (Chemical Engineering) in 1966
Joined faculty after graduation with U Myat Thwin (Keusan Lin, ChE66)
Spouse : Eng Eng (younger sister of U Myat Thwin) They have a son
Founding member, RIT Alumni International
Organizer, SPZP-2000
He and several ChE alumni sponsored Saya U Khin Aung Kyi (GBNF) and spouse to attend SPZP-2000
Founding member & inaugural President, Norcal RITAA
In response to request by Saya U Aung Myaing (ChE72), he provided $500 as seed money for the Training Component of YTU Library Modernization project and solicited donations from sayas and alumni. $3000+ was raised. Saya U Myat Thwin and Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60) donated $500 each.
ChE72 Final Year question for ” Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers” had three (or four) pages. The examiner was Saya U Maung Maung.
Daw Gyn Yu wrote :
ဆရာကအင်မတန်စာသင်ကောင်းရုံမကသဘောကောင်းပြီးခင်မင်ဖေါ်ရွေတတ်ပါတယ်။ကျမတို့၏ချစ်ခင်လေးစားရသောဆရာပါ။ဆရာ့ဇနီးEng Eng ကလည်းဆရာနှင့်အတူအလွန်လိုက်ဖက်ညီပါတယ်။စိတ်သဘောထားဖြူစင်ကောင်းမွန်ပြီးအလွန်ဖေါ်ရွေ၊ချစ်စရာကောင်းလှပါတယ်
Photos
Mostly taken in the SF Bay Area
SPZP-2000 Organizers
SF Bay Area Alumni Group founded RIT Alumni International which hosted SPZP-2000
Welcoming Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC)
Welcoming U Tint Swe (ChE66, Singapore) U Nay Win Myint (Victor Win, ChE66, Past President of BADA) is GBNF
Welcoming Saya U Aung Myaing (ChE72) and Daw Gyn Yu (ChE72)
SPZP-2000 OrganizersSF Bay Area Alumni GroupWelcoming Saya U Soe Paing (RR, UCC)Welcoming U Tint Swe (ChE66)SPZP-2012SPZP-2012SPZP-2012SF Bay Area Alumni GroupWelcoming Saya U Aung Myaing (ChE72) and Daw Gyn Yu (ChE72)
Sayama Daw Tin Tin Myint (Emma, ChE70) posted a picture of her mom (now GBNF), Sayagi Dr. Aung Gyi & Daw Emma, Edwin (her brother) & Marla, U Tha Aung & Daw Kinsa Maw-Naing.
The picture was taken at Edwin’s house in Toronto, Canada.
Feedback
Daw Emma Gyi wrote :
I forgot this picture was taken, 25 years ago.
Time really flies so fast !!!
Kinsa wrote :
Thank you, Ma Ma Emma & Ko Hla Min! Behind me in the picture is Ko Tha Aung. How young we all were then…
Emma wrote :
My mom passed away at 98 three years ago.at 80 she went back to Yangon declaring I die at my own house. Monthly she dana 20 to 30 lakh kyats per month.she had a dhamma group. They discussed Dhamma. She gives for them medical expenses.for eye surgery. i complained to her. am dumb because i take after u. She said i agree i am dumb.but i can dana freely all my life.u cannot eat more spend more even if u r smart. Dumb also ok.
It was founded by San Francisco Bay Area Alumni led by Saya Allen Htay (C58, GBNF) and several interested alumni (notably U Khin Maung Zaw, EC76, webmaster based in Seattle Washington).
The founding members include Saya K C Chiu (ChE63), Saya U Nyo Win (M65), Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66), U Hla Min (EC69), Benny Tan (M70), Saya U Thein Aung (Met72), Maurice Chee (M75), U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) and Gordon Kaung (M83).
The primary objective was to host the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (SPZP).
In the early days, we had volunteers to collect data and activities for selected Classes and Areas. The Class representatives include Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) and U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69). The Area representatives include U Thet Tun (Henry, M75) for Australia, and Dr. Myo Khin (C70) for Japan.
U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) worked four-hour days, spent weekends and nights on the RIT website project. It was a reason for the success of SPZP-2000. KMZ moved to Microsoft and later founded a loving family. Version 2.0 of the promised web remained a vaporware.
Some of the costs for the web site were donated by the founding members of RIT Alumni International, U Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee, M69) from New Jersey, U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69) and Saya U Aung Myint (M69) from Singapore
Organizers for SPZP-2000
The founding members of RIT Alumni International were the core organizers. Benny Tan and Maurice Chee were co-chairs of the Working Committee. Saya Allen Htay and Saya U Nyo Win headed the Steering Committee. Selected sayas and alumni from NorCal and SoCal served as members of the committees.
Saya U Nyo Win (M65) proposed a law saying that the core organizers would pitch in as much as $500 if there were insufficient attendees for SPZP-2000. Thanks to Saya Allen Htay’s classic article, “Brother, can you spare US $500?”, U Nyo Win’s Law was not enacted.
Five Golden Sponsors for SPZP-2000 showed up. The first was U Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70, SoCal) f, who donated $3000. The next were Benny Tan (Yu Beng, M70, NorCal), U Tin Myint (David Ko, M67, NorCal, GBNF) and U Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee, M69, New Jersey), who each donated $1000. Last but not the least was U Maung Maung Than (M79, Texas), who donated a round-trip ticket to sponsor a saya to attend SPZP-2000.
Three Groups sponsored Sayagyi U Ba Toke (Maths, saya of our sayas), Saya U Khin Aung Kyi (ChE, former Rector) and Saya Dr. San Tint (EE) to attend SPZP-2000. Sad to note that all three sayas are GBNF.
Sayagyi Dr. Ba Hli, Saya Allen Htay (C58), Saya U San Tun (M59), Saya Dr. Koung Nyunt (A67), Saya U Htun Aung Kyaw (ChE67) and several other sayas and alumni contributed photos to the Photo Gallery.
Sharing memories were enable in the “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” and ex-rit.org web pages. The features include: Letters to the Editor; Looking for; GBNF for Sayas and Sayamas; GBNF for Alumni; GBNF for Spouses
Sayagyi Dr. Freddie Ba Hli, Sayagyi U Aung Khin, Sayagyi U Min Wun, Saya Allen Htay, Saya Dr. San Hla Aung, Saya U Soe Paing, Dr. Myint Thein (M73) and several other sayas and alumni wrote articles for the Newsletter and web site.
I wrote 64 “Countdown to the Reunion” and 36 “Post-Reunion”. I incorporated the emails and correspondences from sayas and alumni.
Benny Tan designed mementos (mugs, tee-shirts, calculator/clocks, …) for SPZP-2000. He ordered them with special discount from his suppliers (of his Gift Shop at the SFO International Airport). Some were given to eligible attendees (per request of Steeve Kay, who provided the seed money for the project). Others were put on sale for fund raising.
There was a Commemorative Issue of the RIT Alumni Newsletter for SPZP-2000. Hla Min served as Chief Editor. Saya U Thein Aung (Met72) and Henry Lim volunteered as Associate Editors. U Thein Aung compiled the biographies of sayagyis.
SPZP-2000 would not have been possible with the support of spouses, family members and well-wishers. Several provided the Culinary expertise for pre-SPZP and post-SPZP activities
Saya U Aung Khin is Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department.
Saya U Win Kyaing and Saya U Tin Hlaing (M59) are GBNF.
Saya U Aung Hla Tun headed the HMEE-2012 project and is continuing with the HMEE-2018 project.
Saya U Phone Myint (Workshop Superintendent) is enjoying post-retiring by visiting his children overseas.
Saya U Tin Htut (M60, Past Captain and Gold of RUBC) taught Industrial Management. The subject was earlier taught by Visiting Lecturers from the Institute of Economics. He moved to the USA where he worked most of the time except for a stint with the UN project overseas. He co-founded BASES with U Tin Htway (M59) and U Tun Tin (David, who studied in the USA as a Burmese States Scholar). During his visits to Myanmar, Saya donated K100 Lakhs for the YTU Modernization Project, K10 Lakhs for Swel Daw Yeik Foundation and to the All-Mechanical Gathering.
U Cho Aye (M70, GBNF) finished First in every year in Mechanical Engineering. He and U Win Lwin took part in climbing Mount Victoria.
Benny Tan (Tan Eu Beng, M70) is a successful entrepreneur in the USA. He is a Multiple Golden Sponsor for the SPZPs. He is a major donor for the Reunion and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65.
U Ohn Khine (M70) is a volunteer for SPZP-2012 and SPZP-2016, SDYF events, and HMEE-2012 and HMEE-2018 Projects. He is the moderator for the Google Group of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65. He translated Section One of the HMEE-2012 book and summarized Section Two of the book. During my visits to Yangon, he gave me rides to attend the meetings for SPZP and HMEE.
Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing Founder of Peace Movement Principal of National College
U Thant
U Thant United Nations Secretary General Third UNSG First Asian UNSG
Bogyoke Aung San Architect of Burma’s Independence
U Thein Han (Zawgyi) Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Central Library Laureate Poet Co-founder, Khit San Sar Pay
U Wun (Minthuwun) Professor, Burmese Department, RU Head of RU Translation Department Lexicographer Visiting Professor at Osaka University Laureate Poet Co-founder, Khit San Sar Pay
Dr. Maung Maung Kha First native Professor of Physics Rector of Rangoon University (with longest tenure)
Ludu Daw Ah Mar (Amar) 1936 RU Students’ Strike Author and Publisher Spouse : Ludu U Hla
U Khin Maung Latt Taught English at RU and at his private school Chief Editor of Working People’s Daily Spouse : Daw Khin Myo Chit
Daw Khin Myo Chit Participant in the struggle for Burma’s Independence Award winning Author and Translator Spouse : U Khin Maung Latt
Rangoon University
The University of Rangoon was established in December 1920.
Silver Jubilee (in 1945) Most of the schools were closed for three years. The University of Rangoon reopened in 1946. There were make-shift classes on Mogul (Shwe Bon Tha) Street during that period. Saya U Ba Toke was lucky to receive his Masters during the war (thanks to his supervisor).
Golden Jubilee (in 1970) I used to have a commemorative issue. I also had a small part as a volunteer of the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Yay Ah Phwe”.
Diamond Jubilee (in 1995) Saya Dr. Soe Win has posted a picture.
Centennial (in 2020) “Yar Pyay Ah Kyo” celebrations kicked off in December, 2019
EC Members of the “Tekkatho Kalaung Ah Thin (1958 – 1962)” published a Kabyar book and a commemorative issue.
Miscellaneous
Centennial for “Amyotha Aung Bwe” in 2020 uses Myanmar date
Centennial for “Myanmar Yoke Shin” in 2020
Centennial for “Engineering Education” in 2023
Centennial for “Rangoon University Boat Club” in 2023 I was a Contributing Editor for the 90th Anniversary
At the centennial celebrations of some universities, the alumni and staff were asked to nominate events and people to be honored as the 100 items associated with the school.
HlaMin 