Leader Spotlight: Ms. Cumbess

Q: Where are you a SRLA leader? How many years have you been with SRLA and what brought you to us?

A: I am a leader at Garfield High School. This is my 15th season with SRLA; I was running on my own and joined when I found out about the team on our campus.

Q: What is your day job?

A: I am an academic counselor at Garfield HS

Q: What is your favorite training tip, quote, or words of advice that you share with your students?

A: You may not always feel like coming to practice or keeping your pace in a race, but once you have finished, you will have a great sense of accomplishment and know you did something good for your body.

Q: What has been your favorite SRLA event of all time?

A: It's always the Los Angeles Marathon itself because of the camaraderie in the air as everyone in their SRLA uniform gets off the buses in the early morning hours; add to that the excitement of the start line and the support of spectators throughout the route and it's no wonder the event is always a memorable highlight.

Q: What is the best thing about SRLA in your opinion?

A: Exposing students to something they might otherwise never experience: being part of a team, completing challenging athletic events, and traveling to different parts of LA.

Q: What’s something that people might be surprised to learn about you?

A: I was an NCAA All American sprinter (Mile Relay) at UCLA in the early 80's.

Q: Anything else you want to share?

A: As an academic counselor, SRLA has provided me with a means to get to know some students on a level that enables me to write more effective letters of recommendation for colleges and scholarships. It also provides the students themselves strong material for writing more effective personal statements.

Thank you Ms. Cumbess for all you do for SRLA students! Make a donation today to support the SRLA program and volunteers like Ms. Cumbess.