James and Nang Rives

 5/20/08

Lawrence couple creates bequest for English as a second language

LAWRENCE — Many people have heard the words, "You're never too old to learn," throughout their lives and possibly dismissed them with little thought. But James and Nang Rives bring life to this old saying. Through their love of knowledge and appreciation for KU, they plan to make it easier for others to continue learning as well.

The Riveses have included in their estate plans a bequest to KU Endowment to create the James A. and Nang M. Rives Fund in Education. The fund will support the area of English as a second language through student scholarship aid, faculty assistance and program enhancement.

“We would like to support the KU School of Education with, eventually, everything we can give in the hope that it will enable others to achieve what so far has not been possible for us during our lifetimes — the opportunity to fully pass along the gift of education,” James said.

The Riveses both have made great investments in education. After spending parts of their lives dedicated to teaching others and earning multiple degrees from KU, they say they continue to learn every day.

James Rives calls education “the best possible investment because it carries the hope of creating greater human knowledge and understanding — for which there are always a great need.”

He taught music, band, orchestra and singing for 16 years, mostly in the public schools of New Mexico. His ambition was to be a college professor, and he became a tenured faculty member in education at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, in April 1970. But his path soon led elsewhere.

“Those were very unsettling times in American higher education, with campus protests, violence and closings,” he said. “I found myself in the mobile home park business in Santa Fe, New Mexico.”

In 1984, he came to the KU School of Education to update his studies, with the intention of returning to teaching at the university level. He was unable to follow through with his plans, but while studying at KU, he completed doctoral degrees in music education and in curriculum and instruction.

Nang Mo Lao Rives worked as a high school teacher for 15 years in Shan State, Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. In 1986 she received a Fulbright Scholarship to study the teaching of English as a second language (TESL) in the United States. She came to KU and earned a master’s degree in TESL in the School of Education. She continued her studies after marrying James in 1989 and earned a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction in 1999.

“We just love KU,” Nang Rives said. “You are pushed by people who are so knowledgeable, there is such a high quality of faculty. This university has done so much for both of us, and we would just like to show our appreciation.”

The Riveses, who live in Lawrence, are now semi-retired. James is still involved in business, and Nang is working toward a second doctorate.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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