In an effort to develop the leaders of tomorrow, the Buffalo Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) partnered with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB), and Erie Community College (ECC), to deliver the inaugural Captains Leadership Seminar (CLS) this morning at ECC South. The program goal is to establish a foundation for the leadership development of current high school student athletes for their use today and in future collegiate and vocational endeavors. Student athletes and their respective coaches and/or athletic director were selected to attend from high schools located throughout western New York.

Megan Caltagirone, FBI scholar athlete from Holland High School poses with Buffalo Sabres Captain Brian Gionta.  Caltagirone placed second in the 2000-meter steeplechase at the Spring 2015 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championships; placed first at the NYSPHSAA Section 6 indoor championships in the 1500-meter race; and is a NYS Class C soccer champion.

“My job as the agent in charge of my office is to make our community better, “FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig said. “How many criminals I put in prison is not as powerful as how many leaders I seed into the community.”

Buffalo Sabres Captain Brian Gionta and gold medal Olympic wrestler and
Edinboro Athletic Director Bruce Baumgartner

Sabres Captain Brian Gionta spoke of the challenges he faced as a young teenage hockey player and how adversity gave him the determination to press on and achieve success. Gionta told the athletes, “Trying to be a leader, trying to be a team captain means finding ways to bring the team together—be that glue.” He added, “In order to be a good leader you have to lead outside the locker room, too.”

“Collaboration creates a winning culture. What is your why?” asked Vicki Mitchell, UB Track and Field Coach. “Talent wins games and teamwork wins championships.”

During a presentation from Dr. Amanda Nickerson, Director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention at UB, student athletes, coaches and athletic directors were asked to participate in a ”Stand up for Truth” session, where she asked participants to stand if they believed a fact about bullying was true or remain sitting if they believed the fact was false.