New Scholarship Honors Global Food Security Advocate David Lambert

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The first recipients of a new endowed scholarship for undergraduate students at Iowa State University (ISU) are scheduled to be announced Thursday, October 13, during a luncheon held in conjunction with the World Food Prize’s 2016 Borlaug Dialogue.

Established in memory of global food security advocate David Lambert, the David Lambert 'Hunger Fighter' Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the strides that Lambert made in addressing food security and malnutrition during his lifetime.

Funded by contributions from Lambert’s family and friends, the $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to an Iowa State University sophomore or junior each year with a demonstrated interest in seed science, global food security, and/or childhood nutrition. Recipients will be selected on the basis of academic excellence, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills.

“Everyone who knew David knew what a kind and generous man he was,” said Seed Science Center Director Manjit Misra. “David was a Distinguished Fellow for our center, an avid supporter of the World Food Prize, and my friend. He truly believed that no child, whether he or she resides in the U.S. or around the world, should ever go to bed hungry. And, he tirelessly committed himself to developing policy to fight hunger and malnutrition to make that goal a reality.”

David’s close friend Dan Silverstein agrees. “David inspired many to embark on careers of service to others. He spoke truth to power, advocating forcefully for the moral obligation of ending world hunger. He inspired audiences to see hunger at personal level, and do something about it.”

About David Lambert

David Patterson Lambert was an internationally recognized advocate for global food and nutrition security. An avid supporter of the World Food Prize, Lambert was passionate in his fight against world hunger.

The principal of Lambert Associates, a Washington-based public affairs consulting firm, Lambert provided strategic policy advice on issues including food safety, biotechnology, child nutrition, and global food security.

During his career, Lambert served as Senior Vice President to the New York Stock Exchange, and Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, Chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee. Former President Clinton appointed Lambert Permanent Alternate Representative and Foreign Agricultural Service Counselor to the U.S. Mission to U.N. Agencies, and he served as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the U.N.’ s Codex Food Safety Commission in Rome and Geneva. Lambert also accompanied Ambassador George McGovern on humanitarian missions throughout Asia and Africa.

Lambert held the position of Distinguished Fellow for the Iowa State University (ISU) Seed Science Center from 2009 to 2015 and lectured at the Catholic University of America, teaching graduate courses on global food security and hunger issues.

Lambert passed away October 16, 2015, at the age of 75.