b'Danielle BurrussLt/Colonel and receiving his grandsons first salute at hisDanielle attended NCCC before Commissioning Ceremony as a 2nd Lt.transferring to SUNY Buffalo In addition, Michael was the recipient of NCCCs State where she earned her Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018, one of the CollegesBachelors Degree in Public most prestigious awards. To watch Michael receive thisRelations and Advertising. She awardthat moment defies description, said Sal. I triedis the Founder and Lead Vessel to impart on them that NCCC was such a great path to startat G & G Empowerment Group, your education and that it was going to give them an a Christian based organization opportunity to achieve their goals. Its so fulfilling to see dedicated to the support and all that they have accomplished knowing they also gotencouragement of AfricanSal Messina74 their start at NCCC like me.American women. In addition, she owns her own graphic Two generations of NCCC Alumni Committee Members In 2006, Sal reconnected with NCCC and joined the Alumnidesign business, Burruss Designs, and is part owner of the Committee. My son Michael was a member of the originalMahogany. She is also involved with Say Yes Buffalo working Three generations of dedicated military service NCCC Alumni Board and asked if I would be interested into guide students through the transition to post-secondary Countless years of giving back to NCCC and the community joining. He thought that I would enjoy being part of thiseducation. Way to go Danielle!incredible committee and he was absolutely right! Fifteen years later and I still have so much admiration and respectYaritza Dejesus for my fellow committee members and the staff who workYaritza attended NCCC before transferring to the University so tirelessly to bring us all together. I dont just see them asat Buffalo. She is the Director of Transportation at Greater fellow members, but my lifelong friends. I also dont feel likeBuffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network (GBUAHN). Im contributing because Im constantly receiving so muchIn addition, she has spearheaded the annual turkey giveaway, enjoyment and gratification getting to be part of somethinggolf tournament, toy drive, and other GBUAHN events.Yaritza so special.has also been known to help families in need with clothes, As a dedicated alumnus and committee member, Sal food and toys. Congratulations Yaritza!volunteers his time at almost every NCCC Alumni andFoundation event including the 5K Run/Walk and Antoine Johnson 14 Commencement Flower Sale. Volunteering to help withAntoine graduated from NCCC in 2014 with his Associates Commencement is one of my favorite experiences. I get toDegree in LA&S: Humanities & Social Science before continuingsee the pride on all of the familys faces as their childrenhis education at the University at Buffalo. He is Programreceive their degrees. I then turn to look at the studentsManager at Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network and launched and see the joy beaming from their smiles. I treasure thosethe Fatherhood Program in 2017. Since then, Antoine hasmoments.obtained roughly a half-million dollars in grants to sustain In addition to his time spent with NCCC, Sal has and grow the program. In addition, he is the Founder of Grace volunteered with SABAH for over 20-years, serves on and Johnson Enterprise, LLC. In his free time, Antoine is a his churchs bereavement committee, and is a 27+ gallonyouth minister, a volunteer for SUNY Erie Men of Meritblood donor. In addition, he is an active member of the Program, and a committee member for the Healthy Corner Cristoforo Colombo Society in Niagara Falls. My dad cameStore Initiative Collaboration of WNY. You rock Antoine! from Sicily when he was 8-years old. To take care of his family, he worked in a factory his entire life. What he didKristina Muffoletto was a stepping stone for us to have a better future and nowKristina Muffoletto attended NCCC before transferringmy family tries to honor that with each generation. Oneand graduating from SUNY Buffalo State and Canisiusof the most rewarding parts of his time with the CristoforoCollege. She is the Chief Operating Officer at LE3 Inc.,Colombo Society, Sal says, is serving as Chairman of theira nonprofit organization established to provide locally Scholarship Committee. Over the last 13-years, I marvel atenriched educational experiences for all children through our honorees. They continue to ignite my belief in our nextacademic programming. In addition to updating theirgeneration with their commitment to education and ourschool counseling program, Kristina created workshops, community. lunch bunch groups, one-on-one counseling sessions, and Sal finished by saying, we are blessed in so many ways, thatprovided training tools on successful behavior management. its important to give back however you can. I choose to giveKeep up the great work Kristina!back to my community and to my school. They have given me and my family so many opportunities and made me a better person. 2019-2020 Connections Magazine 1'