by Hla Min

Updates : June 2025

Awards

• Collegiate Scholarship (1963)
• Luyechun (1965)
• Appreciation (October 2000)
• Appreciation (August 2016)
• Appreciation (September 2016)
• Distinguished Toastmaster (2017)

August 2016

Birthday Soon Kway

• Maurice Chee (M75) organized a Birthday Soon Kyway at Dhammananda Vihara, Half Moon Bay in August 2016.
• He prepared electronic & hard copy of the birthday wishes.
• Another set was for attendees, who had not sent wishes by e-mail.
• Thanks to the sayas, colleagues and friends for a memorable gathering.

Appreciation from Sayas and Alumni in US and Canada

• Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi could not attend the soonkyway, but he requested Ko Maurice to donate a food dish for him & his family. Sayagyi’s message was read by Ko Maurice.

• Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) presented the appreciation award at Half Moon Bay soonkwyay and gathering (August 2016).

September 2016

Alumni Appreciation Award from NorCalRITAA

The award was signed by

• Saya U Myat Htoo (C68, Chair, BOD)
• Gordon Kaung (M83, President)
• U Thaung Nyunt (M87, Secretary)

Saya U Myat Htoo presented the award to me at the NorCal RITAA Annual Dinner, 2016.

From SPHS in 1963

Collegiate Scholarship winners from SPHS in 1963

There were five Paulians in the Top Five, seven in the Top Ten, and ten in the Top Twenty.

• Khin Maung U (Retired from FDA, USA) – 1st
• Min Oo (Retired Maths Professor from McMasters University, Canada) – 2nd
• Myo San (Freddie, Surgeon, GBNF) – 3rd
• Nyunt Wai (Victor, Professor, IM & Malaysia) – 4th
• Thein Wai (Migrated to USA after graduation) – 5th
• Hla Min (Lifelong Learner, Retired Software Engineer) – 7th
• Aung Kyaw Zaw (Cardiologist) – 9th
• Maung Maung Kyi (Dip Ing, Retiree in Wales, GBNF) – 11th
• Aung Thu Yein (Brownie, EC69, GBNF) – 13th
• Khin Maung Zaw (Frank, Retired Doctor in UK) – 17th
• Three are GBNF

Luyechun

Summer of 1965

• Attended Inlay Khaung Daing Camp

From Toastmasters International

Awards

• CC (Competent Communicator)
• ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze)
• ACS (Advanced Communicator Silver)
• ACG (Advanced Communicator Gold)
• CL (Competent Leader)
• ALB (Advanced Leader Bronze)
• ALS (Advanced Leader Silver)
• DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster)
• Triple Crown

I served as

• Club Officer
• Area Governor
• Club Coach
• Contest Chair
• Ambassador
• Guest Speaker
• Test Speaker
• Team Builder (for Excellent Leadership)

From my Life Savers

Coffee mug with photos

My beloved grandchildren gave me a present for Grand Father’s Day.

Drawings

On several occasions

Book Presents

For editing and proof reading

I edited or proof-read books by

• Sayadaws (U Silananda, U Jotalankara)

• Sayas (Saya Des Rodgers)
• Friends (Saya U Aung Zaw)

• They provided me copies of their books.

From colleagues and friends

I also received copies from others. They include

• “Myanmar in my life-time”
  Book by BBS U Khin Zaw
  air mailed from Australia by U Wint Khin Zaw

• Book honoring Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint
  air mailed from Australia by Dr. TOKM

• Centennial for U Khin Maung Latt & Daw Khin Myo Chit
  Two books given by Junior Win, twin sister of Maung Yit
• Books by U Ye Sint (former Editor of Dhammanda Newsletter)
  His works
  Pathan Dethana (Dhamma Dana by his siblings)
• U Kesala (Chief Resident monk, Alodaw Pyie Monastery in Arizona)
  Dhamma Q&A
  Several other books

• “Nga Doh Khit Ka Tekkatho”
  Book by Shwe Ku May Hnin
  Given to me at the San Francisco Bay Area Talk

• Books by Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War)
  Collection of Poems
  Collection of Articles

• Book by Saya U Nyunt Htay
  Collection of Swel Daw Poems

• Books by Nyan Oo Maung
  Currently known as “Mudita Shwe Kyaung” Sayadaw U Nyanika
• Books by various sayadaws in the Bay Area & beyond
  U Dhammapiya
  U Gosita
  Dhamma Bheri Sayadaw
  Aung San Tat Oo Sayadaw
  Thamanay Kyaw

• Books by Dr. San Oo, Daw Than Yi & family
• “Yahandar and Poke Ko Htoo Myar”
  Book by Dhammacariya U Htay Hlaing
  (in the 80’s for translating several of his “Dhamma Duta” articles)
• Books by Sayawun Tin Shwe
  Given by his daughter Tyn Tyn Aye during her UCC studies
• U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ) mailed me two books that he bought in Myanmar.
  U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin
  Collection Bagan poems (by Zawgyi, translated by Ah May Thar).
• Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt believes in a “revolving library”. Gave me several books that he enjoyed reading.
• 8-8-88
  Book by Dat Pone Htein Win
  Given at 5th ILF in Mandalay
• Books by Members of Professional Spakers Association (PSA)
  Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing
  Kaythri Kyaw
  …

Magazines

Editor for “90th Anniversary Issue of the Founding of RUBC” (2013)

Wrote poems and articles for

• RIT Alumni International Newsletter (for SPZP-2000)
• “Swel Daw Yeik Sarsaung” for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 and SPZP-2010
• “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine for Shwe YaDu”

U Ohn Khine (M70) and I compiled the CD supplement for HMEE-2012.

CDs

Received raw and formal CDs and DVDs for the various RIT Gatherings.

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Program

• Luyechun stands for Outstanding Student.
• The initial Luyechun program ran from 1964 to 1988.

1964

• Luyechun Program was established in 1964.
• Eligible students from 7th Standard to 10th Standard were chosen to attend the Ngapali Luyechun Camp.
• 1964 Luyechuns include Ko Win Aung (TTC), Ko Oke Soe Kha (MEHS), Ma Pwint Than (Loikaw), Ko Aung Myint (Mandalay), and Ma Mie Mie Khine (Akyab).

1965

Luyechun Program was extended in 1965 for eligible students from Universities and Institutes. There were three Camps

• Inlay Camp for high school and university students
• Ngapali Camp for middle school students
• Combined Camp in Rangoon

I was selected as RIT Luyechun for the Inlay Camp along with Ko Sein Shwe, Ko Zaw Min and Ma Khin Than Myint Tin (Margaret).

Ko Kyaw Sein Koe (Victor Koe, GBNF), Ma Anita Aye Pe, Ko Khin Maung U & Ma Than Than Tin (Cherry Hlaing) were selected for IM(1).

Ko Tun Naung (GBNF, BDS), Ko Soe Aung & Ko Thein Win (IM2), Ko Min Oo (Maths), Ko Ye Myint & Ma Khin Aye Than (Chemistry), Ko Myint Thein & Ko Soe Lwin (Physics), and Ko Tin Hlaing (Lay Dwin Thar Saw Chit, Burmese) were some who were selected for their disciplines.

Those from Matriculation include Ko Win Myint (later Bogyoke), Ko Aung Win (later RIT Saya), Uttam Singh (later NASA) and Ma Pwint Than (later EPC). They joined RIT.

Others include :
Ko Aung Shwe (brother of Tekkatho Phone Naing), Ko Than Sit (GBNF, Liver Foundation), Ko Aung Kyaw Nyunt (GBNF), Ko Aung Myint, Ko Thein Lwin, Nelson Kaw & Ko Kyaw Myint.

Multiple Luyechun

• Several students (e.g. Dr. Khin Maung U, Dr. Thynn Thynn Lynn, Daw Mie Mie Khine) were selected Luyechun multiple times.

Staff Sayas

• Some sayas from Universities and High Schools were chosen to manage the Luyechuns. e.g. U Aung Gyi (MASU), Daw Po (RASU), Dr. May May Yi (GBNF, IM2)
• Ko Min Oo (SPHS63, Maths) was selected Luyechun in 1965 and later as a Staff Saya.

Guest Speaker

• Saya U Thein Han (Zawgyi), Saya Dr. Nyi Nyi & U Thu Ta (Meteorology) were Guest Speakers at the Inlay Luyechun Camp.
• Saya U Kyaw Myint (DHE) & I were Guest Speakers at the Nagapali Lu Ye Chun Camp in 1988.

Status

• Luyehun project ended in 1988.
• Several years back, an Association was formed for Luyechuns from 1964 to 1988.
• The 7th Annual General Meeting was held online in January 2021.