Meet a Roadrunner: John Lambert honors wishes of late wife by becoming teacher

John Lambert and sons

By Kris Rodriguez
Public Affairs Specialist

(Feb. 26, 2014) -- Meet John Lambert. When his late wife Ivania's health was declining toward the end of her battle with breast cancer, he made a promise to her that he would complete his degree and become a history or social studies teacher, so he could have the same schedule as their 10-year-old twin sons, Ivan and Johnny.

Today, Lambert is closer to fulfilling that promise with his student teaching set to begin in the fall and a December commencement ceremony in sight.

Lambert's dream could not become a reality without the assistance of the Nau Scholars Program Fund. John Nau and Bobbie Nau have committed $1 million for undergraduate scholarships, graduate teaching assistantships and fellowships. Undergraduate history majors can receive up to $10,000 in scholarship support, graduate students up to $12,000 and teaching assistants up to $16,000.

"There was a tough moment there when things became tight for me financially, and the Nau scholarship funding was very timely," said Lambert. "I thank you, my kids thank you and my livelihood thanks Mr. Nau as my graduation day draws closer."

In addition to a career as a public school teacher, Lambert plans to continue performing in local improvisational theater and possibly pursue graduate studies focusing on oral histories.

Eventually, he would like to produce an independent film on the female guerilla experience during the Nicaraguan Contra conflict. His late wife's family still resides in Nicaragua and Costa Rica and continues to stay in touch with John and the twins.

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