Alva McFarland
Alva McFarland, youth counselor at Grigg Cottage at Wyndham Lawn Home for Children, took home a gold medal at this summer’s (2006) Empire State Games in Rochester. She won the triple jump event, jumping 40 feet. Along with competing in the triple jump, she is also a sprinter and competes in 4 x 100-meter and 4 x 400-meter relays as the anchor, as well as individually competing in the 400m, 200m and 100m events.
“I have been running and competing since I was in middle school,” said Alva. “ I love the competition.”
Alva competed in track and field at UB and holds school records in both indoor and outdoor seasons in relays, as well as the triple jump. She jumped her career high of 42 feet during the 2003 season and qualified for the Nationals in Sacramento, where she placed fifteenth.
“I continue to set goals and challenge myself,” said Alva. “I’ve learned from competing that anything you work hard for you can achieve. Anything I’ve ever earned is because I worked hard for it.”
She received her bachelor of arts degree in both psychology and African-American studies in 2003 and her master’s in humanities, also from UB, in 2006. Originally from Binghamton, she now resides in the City of Lockport. She has been working at Wyndham Lawn for a year.
“When I moved to Lockport I started looking for jobs in my field,” she said. “I came across a posting for a position online. I chose to work here because of the people— the staff, my supervisor— the norms, and how the program works to help all the kids on the grounds better themselves.”
Currently, she is in charge of overseeing the development and growth of eight young ladies housed in Grigg Cottage. She assists them in goal setting, staying on task, being focused and basic over-all moving forward in life.
“Seeing changes and progress occur within the ladies is a rewarding aspect of my job,” says Alva. “The change does not happen overnight, but gradually you start to see attitude changes, see them mature, develop and accomplish things.”
October 2006
