Sao Myat Thazin “Yuki” Thane to Receive 2023 21st Century Leader Award

Sao Myat Thazin "Yuki" Thane, a graduating senior of the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences, UMass Amherst (CICS), has been named one of ten recipients of the university's 21st Century Leaders Awards, to be presented at Commencement on May 26, 2023. 

Thane, of Yangon, Myanmar, double majored in informatics and communication. During the peak of the pandemic in her sophomore year, Thane was studying remotely from Myanmar. She was working full time as an English teacher and part time in a digital marketing internship when a February 2021 military coup brought social and economic chaos to the country. With access to the internet severely limited, she nevertheless completed her studies and maintained dean's list-level grades.

Upon her return to campus, Thane was determined to raise awareness about Myanmar and build community. She helped found and became co-president of the first recognized Myanmar Student Association at UMass Amherst. Deeply involved in campus life, she wrote for the online magazine "Her Campus." She was a peer mentor and undergraduate course assistant in  CICS  and worked in the college's Office of Diversity and Inclusive Community Development. She was a robotics mentor for the UMass Massenberg STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Institute, teaching and organizing projects for middle school and high school students to enhance their interest in STEM. She won an alumni scholarship for her contributions to campus.

Thane has been accepted into the master's degree program in business analytics at UMass Amherst.

The UMass Amherst 21st Century Leaders Award recognizes the strong academic record and achievement of undergraduate students who enhance the university's reputation by contributing their leadership skills, academic achievements, community service, and artistic or athletic accomplishments. 

For a complete list of 2023 21st Century Award winners, visit: 
https://www.umass.edu/news/article/10-umass-amherst-undergraduates-be-honored-21st-century-leaders-commencement-2023

Originally published by the UMass Amherst Office of News and Media Relations.