The students may or may not graduate from the school.
Current usage
The term “alumni” covers all former students.
Most universities have
alumni organization
alumni building
department to support alumni activities
NorCal RITAA
NorCal RITAA
It is an alumni organization based in Northern California. For several years before the pandemic, NorCal RITAA provided scholarship to eligible YTU students.
RITAA
It stands for RIT-YIT-YTU Alumni Association. It is also known as ARITAA.
It provided support for Yangon SPZPs and the YTU Library Modernization Project.
SF Bay Area Alumni Gathering hosted by SteeveBenny and selected alumni Benny & AngelinaBenny & Angelina, U & Mrs. Hla Min
Benny Tan (Yu Beng, M70) matriculated from Methodist English High School (MEHS) in 1964 and was admitted to Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). He graduated with Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) in 1970.
He joined UTC (University Training Corp) and attended the Camps. He won the Sharpshooter Award at two UTC Camps.
He moved to California, USA. He received his Masters degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He worked for the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
He and his spouse Angelina opened their first Gift Shop at the San Francisco Air Port. They opened additional Gift Shops and subsequently sold or franchised some. They established Tan Enterprises.
He hosted meetings for the San Francisco Bay Area Alumni Group led by Saya Allen Htay (C58, GBNF). The Group went on to form a non-profit organization named RIT Alumni International.
RIT Alumni International hosted the First RIT Alumni Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000. The event is fondly called SPZP-2000.
He wore multiple hats for SPZP-2000. He was a Golden Sponsor. He and Maurice Chee (M75) served as Co-chair of the Working Committee. He was Designer of the SPZP Banner, commemorative Mug, Calculator / Clock, and T-shirt.
He is a Multiple Golden Sponsor for the SPZPs and for his Class Gatherings along with Steeve Kay (U Thaung Sein, EC70).
He wrote “Traveling through the Time Machine” for RIT Alumni Newsletter.
He matriculated from St. Albert’s High School, Maymyo.
He was admitted with Roll Number One to the first ever 1st BE in November 1964.
He graduated with Electrical Power in 1970.
He worked for HIC briefly and Ceramics Corporation.
He moved to USA, did his MS and worked in the Electronics Industry until retirement.
Activities and Achievements
He was selected as RIT Luyechun in the Summer of 1965 to attend Inlay Khaung Daing Camp.
He wrote a long article about “RIT Days 1964 – 1970”. U Ohn Khine (M70) added details and posted in the Google Group for the 1st BE Intake. I added the article and published it in RIT Alumni Newsletter.
He hosted Sayagyi U Ba Toke (who was invited to attend SPZP-2000 by his former students) at his new house in Hayward California.
He played Soccer for his Block, Class and EE department (mainly as Goalkeeper).
He was EC of Hostel Committe, Burmese Association, Maths Association, EE Association, English Association, Track & Field Association, RIT Magazine Committee.
Notes
He made waves when he complained about mismanagement at the Luyechun Camp. Later Camp Commandants were sayas (including Sayagyi U Ba Toke).
He added Nawaday to his name to minimize name conflicts (which are common for Burmese names).
Ko Ye Myint (son of Sayagyi U Ba Toke) and Ko Nyunt Maung San were Best Men at his wedding.
Ko Naing Win (GBNF) asked Ko Zaw Min to accompany him to a Cinema with his girlfriend and another (who became Ko ZM’s soul mate).
He had a short temper. He was given a stern warning for hitting a student (who instigated him). It appeared in a report requested by the father (DIG of Police) of his girlfriend, but …
He competed in the English Debate between 1st year and 2nd year classes. He won as a 1st year student. He lost as a 2nd year student.
He was a preliminary selection for the RIT crew at RUBC.
He hiked to Rakkhine with Ko Han Tha Myint and Ko Sein Win. It was reported in the newspapers.
He lived and worked in New York and California. After retirement, he moved to Las Vegas.
Matriculated from St. Peter’s High School, Mandalay
Admitted to the first ever 1st BE along with 400+ students in November 1964
Joined HIC after graduation
HMEE
Member of HMEE-2012 and HMEE-2018 projects
Compiled CD Supplement for HMEE book with U Hla Min (EC69)
Translated Section 1 of HMEE book
Summarized Section 2 of HMEE book
Activities
Moderator of Googlegroup for 1st BE Intake of 1964
Co-author of U Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70) for “RIT Days (1964 – 1970)”
Organizer, Combined 1st BE Intake of 1964 and 1965
Volunteer for SPZP, SDYF and Alumni Association
Notes
Spouse : Sayama Daw Khin Swe Aye (Winnie, ChE70)
Daughter : Medical doctor (working in Malaysia)
Sister : Sayama Daw Khin Swe Myint (organized Physics Symposium in Mandalay)
During my visits to Yangon, he gave me rides to attend SPZP Preparation and HMEE meetings.
The Brother at St. Peter’s registered him as “Ohn Gaing”. His friends called him “Gaing Gyi”.
Photos
HMEE Members Meetings Book & CD Supplement
Gatherings Saya U Ba Than’s Soon Kyway Welcoming Walter (U Win Htay)
HMEE-2012 Project membersHMEE-2012 MeetingHMEE bookCD Supplement for HMEE bookHMEE-2018 meetingHMEE-2018 meetingWelcoming Walter (U Win Htay, USA)With WalterMechanical Engineering 1970With Saya U Ba ThanWith Dr. Win Thein (GBNF)Saya U Ba Than’s Soon KywayBirthday Soon Kyway by U Ba Than
Civil Engineering was the first course offered in 1924 at the Engineering Department of Rangoon University
The first group of students graduated in 1928.
RU later had Civil Engineering Department.
U Ba Hli
First native Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University
Taught Civil Engineering courses
Credited for proposing the “Twinning Program” with prestigious US Universities
Formerly Professor of Civil Engineering and Principal at GTI
See several posts about Sayagyi
Dr. Aung Gyi
Dr. Aung Gyi
Early recipient of “Twinning Program”
BS and MS from MITPh.D from University of Alberta
Succeeded U Mya Han as Head of Civil Engg
Served as Professor and Head of Civil Engg before becoming Rector
Contributed several articles
Dr. Aung Gyi (Top left)
U Min Wun
Early recipient of “Twinning Program”
BS from MIT
MS from Cornell University o
Succeeded Dr. Aung Gyi as Professor and Head of Civil Engg
Founding member of BARB
Member of Myanmar Pyeik Ka Dein Ah Kyan Pay Ah Phwe
Contributed several articles
U Min Wun (Pon Tu)
Some Memories
Saya Allen Htay (C58, GBNF), Founding member and President of RIT Alumni International Core Organizer for SPZP-2000 President, RIT Photography Association
Dr. San Lin (C62, part-time saya) Retired after working for UN in Thailand
Saya Dr. San Hla Aung (C58) Retired Professor, University of New Orleans President, RIT Rowing President, RIT Swimming & Water Polo Line Judge, RUBC Regattas
U Nyi Hla Nge (C69) Retired Dy. Minister
U Saw Linn (C71, GBNF) Core Organizer of SPZP-2012 Managed Logistics, Security; Chief Editor, Commemorative Swel Daw Yeik Magazine; Reprinted 23 Old RIT Annual Magazines
Sometimes, it pays to try something unconventional.
Euclid
Euclid proposed five Postulates, which form the foundation of Euclidean Geometry.
Some mathematicians questioned whether the Fifth Postulate (aka Parallel Postulate) was needed. It gave birth to Non-Euclidean Geometry (used in Navigation).
Newton
Sir Isaac Newton formulated the Laws of Motion.
High school texts describe three Laws of Motion.
Some questioned if two laws are sufficient. The following is their reasoning: Force = Mass x Acceleration If there is no Force, there can be no Acceleration. It implies that the Velocity remains constant. If the initial state is stationary, the object continues to be in that state. If the object is in motion, the object continues to move with that velocity.
One law can be deduced (using First Principles) by another law.
Physics
The size and the speed of the object effect the “Laws of Motion”.
Classical Physics, which was Conventional Wisdom for its time, gave way to Modern Physics (including Quantum Mechanics).
Grace Murray Hopper
Rear Admiral (One Star General) Grace Murray Hopper is a Pioneer & Prime Mover in Computers and Computing.
She won the prestigious ACM Turing Award.
ACM also have the Grace Murray Hopper Award for outstanding young computer scientists who had a significant contribution before the age of 30.
She is credited with coining the term “Bug” for a computer (hardware or software) failure.
She does not like the word, “It’s always been done that way.” She has a clock which runs in the reverse direction of conventional clocks.
Dr. Win Tin served as Dean of Engineering at Assumption University in Bangkok.
U Ba Myint retired as Pro-Rector of YTU.
U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) moved back to Yangon after working in Singapore. He is a poet, author, editor and publisher.
U Sein Maung taught at RIT and Assumption University.
U Soe Paing helped Saya Dr. Chit Swe found UCC (Universities’ Computer Center). He worked for UN projects in several countries.
The following are not in the photo.
U Khaing Oo missed the photo shoot.
U Myo Kyi,Dr. Ba Lwin and U Tin Maung Thein were on deputation for post-graduate studies abroad.
I wrote “EE Sayas : A Sad and Short Clip” for the commemorative issue of Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2010. Saya U Moe Aung (Chief Editor) suggested the title of my article.
U Sein Hlaing(GBNF)
Retired as Professor and Head of Electrical Engineering