Hope Jerackas Wins PBW Scholarship With Perfect 4.0 GPA

When Hope Jerackas isn't acing her business classes at Villa Maria College, she's making chrusciki pastries with her grandmother and sharing Polish traditions with anyone who'll listen.

The freshman just received the Professional & Business Women of Polonia scholarship at their annual dinner on May 28 at Kloc's Banquets. She's maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average while juggling a part-time job in the college's admissions department and participating in campus ministry programs.

Hope's connection to her Polish roots runs deep. She regularly cooks traditional foods like pierogi and kielbasa with her family, and she loves hearing her grandfather Jesse Nikonowicz's stories about immigrating to America.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope and her mother Maureen found a creative way to keep traditions alive. They delivered pounds of butter to family and friends, challenging everyone to make their own Easter butter lambs at home.

"Her ultimate goal is to use her education and talents to help others," according to the scholarship committee, led by Barbara Wetzel. The committee praised Hope's ability to balance academic excellence with cultural preservation and community involvement.

Why This Inspires

Hope represents something bigger than academic achievement. She's proof that young people can honor their heritage while building modern careers.

At just 19, she's already found ways to blend business skills with cultural service. Her grandmother Barbara teaches her recipes in the kitchen while Hope shares those same traditions with college friends who've never heard of chrusciki.

The evening also featured jazz vocalist Kathy Carr, who owns Matt's Music in North Tonawanda. Her father Matt Piotrowski founded the music school in 1963 after serving in the Navy, and it's grown into one of Western New York's most respected music education centers.

Sister Rose Szymanski opened the dinner with a prayer about gratitude, lessons from the past, and promises for the future. Those words captured exactly what Hope embodies: respect for where she came from and excitement for where she's going.

The Professional & Business Women of Polonia has been supporting students like Hope for years, investing in young people who balance academic excellence with cultural pride.

Hope's story reminds us that the best way to honor our heritage is to live it daily and share it generously.