Jon’s Story

Jon Caponetto is an enrolled member of the Burns Paiute Tribe and a first-generation college student. In high school, he excelled academically and participated in various activities, which made him a strong candidate for college. He applied to multiple schools and was eventually awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship, a full-ride scholarship given to only 1,000 students out of 57,000 applicants. This opportunity solidified his decision to pursue higher education.

Currently, Jon is working towards a PhD. He describes the experience as challenging, particularly as the youngest in his program. He often grapples with feelings of self-doubt, questioning whether he deserves his place in the program. However, he remains committed to his research, which focuses on improving the college experience for BIPOC and first-generation students. Jon aims to develop strategies to better connect student affairs professionals with these students, even when the professionals do not share similar backgrounds.

Throughout his journey, Jon has navigated multiple identities, including being biracial, LGBT, and from a rural community. These experiences have shaped his approach to his work and his understanding of the challenges faced by students like him. Jon emphasizes the importance of mentoring and hopes to reinvest the knowledge he has gained back into his communities.