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  • U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76)

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is kmz.jpg
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is kmz-gathering-at-kz.jpg

    Early Days

    Ko Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ) attended St. Paul’s High School (SPHS). He graduated after SPHS was nationalized and renamed as No. (6) Botahtaung SHS State High School.

    Due to disturbances, the convocation for his class took place in March of 1977. For simplicity (and consistency) we call his class as “Class of 76”.

    He played as the last defender in the RIT Hockey Team. Many from the team played for the University and All-Institutes Team. He coached Ko Thura Thant Zin, who was goalkeeper for the team. At RUBC, Ko Thura Thant Zin (RUBC) coached KMZ.

    He helped Ko Maung Maung Hnyut and his brothers (who were major players for the Graduation Photos).

    Hockey team

    UCC

    KMZ volunteered for some time at UCC. He usually did not need to bring his lunch (only an empty lunch box and a spoon). Several friends and some “ah ma gyis” would provide lunch for KMZ.

    He would take some courses at UCC, but flatly refused to do some assignments (e.g. COBOL).

    Moving abroad

    He worked in Singapore and then migrated to US. He has been in the Seattle region since his arrival in the US.

    When my company subsidized my vacation trip (for the successful completion of the project), we visited KMZ at his old house. He showed us around (including a day trip to Vancouver, Canada). He showed me his wine cellar. Since I do not drink, I ended up with his concoction (“ginger beer (or similar) with ice cream”).

    SPZP-2000

    SPZP

    We were lucky when we were planning for SPZP-2000. He was working four 10-hour week with the Technology and Architecture Group of Nordstrom (where he had the time and luxury to play around with several computer systems).

    Too bad for KMZ, he accepted the call of Saya U Soe Paing and me to set up a web site for RIT sayas and alumni. He would spend countless nights and weekends to code the web site.

    At SPZP-2000, he promised to have Version 2.0 of the web site.

    Good for KMZ, he had a wonderful job at Microsoft and also started a wonderful family.

    Initially, bad for us, he no longer had the time for RIT Updates.

    Post retirement

    Finally, good for us, he has retired and is providing tags and comments for my postings.

    He visited the San Francisco Bay Area in March 2018 to attend the retirement soon kyway of Ko Maurce Chee (M75). There was a pre-soon kwyay gathering at a Sea Food Restaurant in San Mateo.

    Presents

    He mailed me two books that he bought in Myanmar. One is about “U Thant Ah Ye Ah Khin” compiled by Htein Win (Photo). The other is a “tran-composition” of Saya Zaw Gyi’s poems about Pagan by Ah May Thar.

    He gave us a special present on our Golden Jubilee.

  • 1964 Matriculates

    I met three 1964 Matriculates on March 16, 2018 at the gathering hosted by Dr. Zaw Lin (David Chee).

    Dr. Min Lwin (Maurice, SPHS64)

    He spends time in the UK and Myanmar. He is visiting California. He is a cousin of U Win Maung (“Lake”) and Sayama Daw Khin Swe Aye. He stood 5th in the Matriculation of 1964 and was admitted to IM(2) as Roll Number Two (based on the ILA).

    Dr. Aung Win (Lam Peng Chiong, SPHS64)

    He is a retired Medical Doctor in Northern California. He was a few marks behind Dr. Cherry Hlaing and Dr. Lyn Aung Thet in the Matriculation of 1964. His ILA was perfect score and was admitted to IM(2) as Roll Number One (based on the ILA).

    Dr. Winnie Tan (SJC64)

    Spouse of Dr. Aung Win

    She is a co-founder of the ConBro (Convent and Brother Schools), which meets in San Francisco. Dr. Daisy Saw and Mabel Sha are the other founder members.

    Dr. Ruby

    She lives in Hong Kong and is visiting her sons in Northern California. She mentioned that her cousin Dr Cherry Hlaing is in the East Coast to attend her daughter’s graduation.

    Dr. Cherry Hlaing (SJC64)

    She was admitted to IM(1) as Roll Number One (with a perfect ILA score). She was selected as Luyechun for Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the summer of 1965.

    Her grandfather (U Hoke Sein), her father (U Saw Hlaing), her son and daughter also stood first in Burma. This is a record that is hard to be broken : four generations and five firsts.

    Dr. Lyn Aung Thet (MEHS64)

    He had four distinctions, but his score for Burmese was not sufficient to get a perfect ILA score. He was an all-round athlete and led the IM(1) team in swimming and water polo. He is a good tennis and chess player. He was selected Lu Ye Chun in a subsequent year.

    Dr. Cho Cho Tin

    She is the other Matriculate in 1964 with four distinctions. She moved to the UK.

  • RITAA

    Overview

    During the Adhamma Era, many associations (especially student and alumni organizations) were not allowed.

    With the dawning of the Pwint Linn Era, RIT-YIT-YTU Alumni Association was allowed to register, but many alumni were not aware of the association and its objectives. Only a few actively participated in the formative events. There was virtually no fund to operate.

    Then, things started to click.

    The office space for the Alumni Association was provided by YTU

    Donations — large and small — were received (mostly for the YTU Library Modernization Project which is a requirement for the Accreditation)

    Membership (Life membership for K60000) grew.

    Saya’s Corner was established.

    Staff and Volunteers helped with the regular and ad hoc projects

    Young alumni came forward to help with the leadership

    U Wynn Htain Oo’s post

    His post is based on RITAA Report. I provided annotations.

    • Alumni Association is a requirement to get YTU accredited.
    • First step to establish RITAA started in March 2016 with the help of YTU Management and the Organizers of Shwe YaDu Celebration
    • Drafting and approval of Bye Law
    • Implementation Committee
    • Interaction with MEC
    • Visit by evaluators from Asian Pacific Engineering Association
    • Role in SPZP-2016 Planning and Implementation
    • Registration
    • Criteria for the accreditation of Post graduate courses
    • 2018 Graduates to be assessed by Asia Pacific Engineering Association
    • Fund raising for YTU Library Modernization
    • Travel grant for staff to undergo Library Training in Singapore
    • Trying to fulfill requirements for Accreditation
    • Financial aid for eligible needy YTU students
    • Teacher’s Corner (for recreation)
    • Finding donors to support RIT athletic associations
    • Finding donors to support Maker Space (of YTU Student Union)

    Commitment

     U Myo Aye (President, RITAA) donated K5 Lakhs for the Fund to pay salary to RITAA employees.

    U San  Kyu (Vice President), U Aung Khaing (General Secretary), U Kaung Myat Soe (Joint Secretary), and U Maung Maung Than (Joint Auditor) donated K2 Lakhs each.

    Fund 

  • U Win Maung

    Rowing medal by Lake Win Maung

    U Win Maung (T70, USA)

    • He is from the Class of 69. He contracted TB and had to take a year off.
    • His friends call him “A Yo Phaya”.

    U Win Maung (George Tun, UBA)

    • He is from the Class of 69. He left RIT before graduation to get License in the field of Aviation Maintenance from the UK.
    • His younger sister is Sayama Daw Khin Swe Aye (Winnie, ChE70).
    • His friends call him “Lake”.
    • He represented RIT in rowing, swimming and water polo. He is a Back Stroke specialist. He completed Inya Lake cross lake (2000 meters) using Back Stroke.
    • During my visits to Yangon, he provided me transportation.

    U Win Maung (SPHS63)

    • He was a Boarder.
    • He played in the School Band.

    U Win Maung (De La Salle)

    • I met him when he was in the San Francisco Bay Area.
    • He was a member of BADA.
    • His younger sister is Dr. Agatha (IM1 79er).

    Mahn Win Maung (President)

    • He was the Third President of the Union of Burma. He was detained on March 2, 1962 by the Revolutionary Council which staged a Coup d’etat.
    • He had a few misfortunes : one with a parachute jump and another during a horse ride.

    U Win Maung (Soccer)

    • He played for the Burma soccer team.

    U Win Maung (Zat Mintha)

    • He is a younger son of Shwe Mann Tin Maung.

    U Win Maung (Min Yu Way)

    • He is a distinguished writer and publisher.
    • In primary school, I received the translation of Aesop’s Fables
      (by Min Yu Way and Ngwe Tar Yi) as a prize.

  • Interesting Photos

    Old Receipt

    Less than 150 kyats for feeding 25 students at Saya U Myo Win’s farewell.

    Receipt

    RUBC in 1948 – 1949

    Sixth Buddhist Council Sayadaws

    Oldest Pagoda in the USA

    Built by U Thilawuntha (Mon Sayadaw, Dat Paung Zon)

    Allegheny, New York in the 50’s

    Pagan Road Residents in December 1958

    Children of RU Sayas (U Wun, U Thein Han, U Myo Min, U Yu Khin)

    Sama Duwa Sin Wa Naung

    The Coup D’etat in March 1962 detained President Mahn Win Maung.

    Sama Duwa had been designated to succeed Mahn Win Maung.

  • Class of 1961

    Thanks to U Aye (M62, HIC/FAO/UN (Retired)) for information and feedback

    Textile

    Saya U Shwe Yi (T61)

    • Retired as Professor.

    Daw Mi Mi Lay (T61)

    • Major (Retired)
    • Director, Myanmar Foodstuff Industry

    Sayama Daw Tin Tin Ohn (Amy Thwin, T61, GBNF)

    • First batch of female engineers in Burma
    • Father : Saya U Thwin (Principal, Government Technical School)
    • Sister : Daw Ni Ni Thwin (Dolly Thwin, ChE64)

    Sayama Dr. Julie Han (T61, GBNF)

    • First batch of female engineers in Burma
    • Attended SPZP-2000
    • Past Vice President, TBSA

    Daw Yin Kyi (T61)

    • First batch of female engineers in Burma
    • Spouse : U Aung Gyi (Simon)

    Chemical

    U Hla Shein (Ch61)

    • SAMB, Rice Bran Oil Dept.(Retired)
    • He was from Pathein
    • We were at the Prome Hall together during 1958-59.

    Pauline Reynolds (ChE61)

    • First batch of female engineers in Burma
    • Moved to Thailand

    Mechanical

    Saya U Maung Maung Win (M61)

    • Retired as Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
    • He and Saya U Myo Win (M/Ag65, GBNF) managed the RIT Automobile Club.
    • He moved to Australia
    • He wrote a series of articles for RIT Alumni International Newsletter.

    U Hla Mg Aye (M61)

    • AMD (Retired)

    U Sann Lwin (M61)

    • Major DI ( Retired)

    U Taik Yan (M61)

    • HIC/ MPPE (Retired)
    • He was from Myeik.

    U Tun Aye (M61)

    • Burma Railways (Retired)
    • He was from Moulmein

    U San Lwin (M61)

    • Asst. Lecturer 1961-62

    U Paw Shwe (M61)

    • Agricultural Mechanization Dept. (Retired)
    • He was from St.Patrick’s HS, Moulmein

    U Thaung Tun (M61)

    • Agricultural Mechanization Dept.

    U Maung Maung (M61)

    • Agricultural Mechanization Dept. (Retired)
    • He was from Taunggyi.
    • We were together at Prome Hall during 1958-59.

    U Tun Win Batu (M61)

    • AMD (Retired)
    • He is the brother of the late Dr Aung Than Batu.
    • He was a Prome Hall selected footballer. He also played for RU team from time to time. Right winger.

    U Tun Shwe (M61)

    • Major (Retired)
    • Director Admin (HIC) GBNF

    U Than Hla (M61)

    • Fire Dept.

    U Kyaw Myint (M61)

    • ECC ( GBNF)
    • He was from Morton Lane Judson HS, Moulmein

    U Soe Min (GBNF)

    • AMD
    • He was from Morton Lane Judson HS, Moulmein

    U San Myint (M61)

    • Air Force (Retired)
    • He was from Thanlyin and a member of the Prome Hall football team.
    • We were together at Prome Hall in 1958-59.

    U Ngwe San (M61)

    • Water Resources Mgt.(Retired)
    • Worked in UNICEF projects in Nepal and Sri Lanka

    Electrical

    Saya Dr. San Tint (EE61, GBNF)

    • Retired as Professor of Electronics Engineering (formerly called Electrical Communications).
    • He was sponsored by EE Alumni to attend SPZP-2000 and to visit Seattle, Washington and New York.
    • Organized Book Drive with former students in USA and Singapore
    • He served as External Examiner at UCC.
    • Nephew : U Hlaing Myint (ex-UCC)
    Dr. San Tint

    Bo Lwin Swe (EE61)

    • Lt Col. DI (Retired)
    • He is a proud Great Grandfather.

    Civil

    Saya Dr. Aung Soe (C61)

    • Retired as Lecturer in Civil Engineering
    • Moved to USA
    • Attended SPZP-2000
    • Spouse worked as Accounts / Admin Office at RIT

    U Soe Win (C61)

    • Director CC ( Retired)
    • We were together at Prome Hall in 1958-59

    Saya U Myint Lwin (C61)

    • Also known as H Num Pon
    • Rowed for Faculty of Engineering
    • Moved to USA
    • Attended SPZP-2000
    • Brothers: Sayagyi H Num Kok (C), H Num Fatt (EE60)

  • Judson

    Missionary

    Andoniram Judson Jr. (1788 – 1850) was the most significant American Baptist Missionary to Burma.

    His supervisors told him that it would be a tough task.

    There were a few ABMs before him, but they did not stay long.

    Judson and his team (which included some former dhamma teachers) compiled the English-Burmese and Burmese-English Dictionaries.

    Burmese English Dictionary 1
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is bur-eng-dictonary.jpg
    Burmese English Dictionary 2
    English Burmese Dictionary
    • Judson published the Burmese translation of the Bible.
    • He helped found the association for Baptists.
    • He is honored by having a church and a college named after him.
    Judson Church
    Translation of “To the Golden Shore”

    Judson College

    • In 1920, Judson College and Rangoon College became constituent colleges of the newly established University of Rangoon.
    • Two buildings for Judson College were donated by the American Baptists.
    • The Willington Hall was built in memory of two families — the Vintons and the Johnsons — of the Church of Willington for their missionary work in Burma.
      It was later known as Dagon Hall.
    • The Benton Hall was donated by Ms. Benton (Treasurer of the Judson Church and/or Judson College).
      It was later known as Thiri Hall.
    • Depending on the period, a Hall may house classrooms or may be used as a hostel.
      There was also a building named North Hall (which later became Shwebo Hall).

  • Sayas S. Arya and S. Kyaw Aye

    by Saya U Tin Myint (M80)

    အာအိုင်တီ ကျောင်းနေဖက်တွေနဲ့ ဒီနေ့လုပ်ဖြစ်တဲ့ ကုသိုလ်လေးများ

    အသက် ၈၆ နှစ် ရှိနေပြီဖြစ်တဲ့ Mr S Arya ကို အိမ်တိုင်ရာရောက်သွားကန်တော့။

    ဆရာကြီးက home made ginger tea နဲ့ ပါပလာကြော်ရယ် နာမည်မခေါ်တတ်တဲ့ နန်တစ်မျိုးရယ်ကျွေးပါတယ်၊ အဖွဲ့သားများ အားပါးတစ်ရ အားပေးခဲ့ကြပါတယ်။

    ပြီးတော့…

    အသက် ၇၈ နှစ် ရှိနေပြီဖြစ်တဲ့ Mr. S. Kyaw Aye ကို အိမ်တိုင်ရာရောက် သွားကန်တော့။

    ဆရာတစ်ယောက် ၃၅၀,၀၀၀ စီ ကန်တော့နိုင်ပါတယ်။

    Notes

    Dr. Myint Thein (M73) wrote about Saya Arya and his memorable accent.

    Saya S. Kyaw Aye is the brother of our classmate Adbul Raof (EP69).

    Saya Arya passed away on the morning of March 13, 2021.

  • Khin Mg Nyo (EP69)

    EP and EC 69

    U Khin Maung Nyo (EP69), U Moe Hein (Ajala, ChE69) and friends swam in the Irrawaddy after work.

    On one occasion, U Khin Maung Nyo passed away (probably under a barge).

    He was an early member (and possibly the First entry) of the 69er GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten) list.

    Tin Aung Win (M69) wrote :

    Salutation from his girlfriend to KMN

    သို့ “ဝန်ထောက်အကို ခင်မောင်ညို” on the envelope

  • Alumni

    Latin terms

    There are four terms to describe students

    • alumnus : former male student
    • alumni : former male students
    • alumna : former female student
    • alumnae : former female students

    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.

    Life membership costs 60,000 Kyats.