By Matt Hoover
USD 475 Communications Coordinator
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Three years ago, Nicola Capriotti walked into the H.D. Karns Alternative School not just as a staff member, but as someone who understands what it feels like to sit in some of those student seats.See, Capriotti, who is a computer-based mentor at H.D. Karns, didn’t have a normal childhood as he was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and then moved to Wellington, Kan., when he was seven years old to live with his grandmother.
He attended Wellington High School, but his path wasn’t traditional as he dropped out and earned his GED in 2019, the same year he was supposed to graduate from WHS. Shortly after, he joined the military.“I grew up in a good neighborhood but was financially very poor. My family was on EBT, and I had to get a job very early in life to help support my family. Before that took all my time, I played football, wrestled and was a part of several social study academic games. I even started a cancer awareness club for every month that represents a cancer type,” said Capriotti.
Today, Capriotti can be found using his childhood as an example for his students, pushing them to better their situation, and its one that he does not take lightly.“Being able to work in this building is super meaningful to me. It means committing selfless service to the future of students every single day. It means going above and beyond for the betterment of the students and overall community. It’s long hours, sometimes thankless, but never does a day go by that you do not have a chance to make a positive impact. You get to be the adult in the education system you wish you had growing up. Every day you have a chance to impact a student’s life or future. I think that is a gift and should be treated as such,” said Capriotti, who is currently finishing an associate’s degree in business administration and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human resources management.
Capriotti has also been able to have that impact away from the Karns building as he started a high school rugby club, the Junction City Jaguars, for area youth that travels all over the area and battles teams in Manhattan, Abilene and Chapman. The club currently has eight students from USD 475 and will open its season on March 14 if it can find enough student athletes to field a team. If you are interested in joining the team, please reach out to Capriotti at nicolacapriotti@usd475.org.“I started the team as I was very passionate about coaching and didn’t have a way to get into coaching other sports, so I made my own path. Coaching the rugby team has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself or the community. To help shape these young men into leaders and honorable men is a privilege I will always cherish,” said Capriotti.
In the classroom, Capriotti has been a shining star as he has made a difference in countless number of students lives in his short tenure at Karns. At the start of every semester, he shares his story with his students. Not because it’s perfect but because it’s real and he believes vulnerability is a strength.“I think them seeing an authoritative figure open up shows them there is strength in vulnerability. I am often told by many students that I am easy to talk to about things and have helped multiple students through their tough situations. I think they are comfortable with me because I reached that helping hand out first by telling them things I have been through. I have always believed in leading from the front and I can’t expect them to do anything I would not do myself,” said Capriotti.