Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
Creighton allowed me to be successful, but more so, my experiences at Creighton helped me to think the way I think, navigate the world and understand it better. I want others to have the same opportunities.
He was known as Vince the Prince—a medical student earning his way through school as a disc jockey. Vince Polek—music afficionado, history enthusiast, a family man, Bluejay fan and loyal Creighton supporter—attributes his successes to the people in his life, to always pursuing his passions and to Creighton University.
For more than three decades, Vince and MaryKatherine Kuner’s gifts to scholarships, mission, academics and programs have made an immediate impact on Creighton students. They are motivated by Pokek’s deep gratitude for his experiences through the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine.
“Creighton allowed me to be successful, but more so, my experiences at Creighton helped me to think the way I think, navigate the world and understand it better. I want others to have the same opportunities.”
The late Allan Schleich, PhD, arts and sciences faculty and avid promoter of history, inspired Polek to major in history. As an undergrad, he worked at the campus radio station before Creighton alumnus, John O’Meara, BA’73— DJ Johnny’O—offered him a mobile disc jockey position. As a medical student, Polek DJ’d campus events and weddings and anniversaries across Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa.
“My education came with so much more,” Polek said. “Dr. Schleich was absolutely memorable and being a disc jockey opened my eyes to so many things. At Creighton, I learned to innovate. And the education with compassion certainly prepared me for life.”
Polek graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1981 and from the School of Medicine in 1985. He began his career as a radiologist in California, where he and Kuner met in the early 90s. In 1995, Kuner traveled with Polek to Creighton for the first time for a basketball game. They have been traveling together ever since.
“I remember, there was just so much camaraderie. And I could see through Vince’s eyes how important Creighton is to him,” Kuner said. “For Vince, visiting Creighton is like coming home. I could see why it was important for him to give every year.”
Since 1986, Polek has supported a number of diverse initiatives. In 2019, he and Kuner established the Vincent T. Polek Scholarship. Their gifts influence the lives of countless students, like College of Arts and Sciences graduate Sagar Poudel.
"I will always be immensely grateful to Dr. Polek and MaryKatherine,” Poudel said. “I am where I am today because of their generosity.”
When he was a teenager, Poudel moved to the United States with his family from Nepal. He completed the last two years of high school in Omaha before enrolling at Creighton. He is currently completing his doctoral program. He says that during his time at Creighton, Polek became the mentor and friend he needed.
“From the moment we met, I thought ‘this is who I want to be,’” Poudel said. “I was amazed that there was this person from the University willing to help me— a complete stranger—figure out my life. I can’t imagine where I’d be without their gifts and his guidance.”
Polek and Kuner say that their Creighton connection keeps deepening. This year, they are planning to establish an estate gift that will carry forward their legacy of genuine care for others.
“It’s the same as with family, this gift is an acknowledgment to Creighton that the University is very important to us, that you’re valued and mean something to us,” Polek said. “I think of Creighton as family, and I can’t think of a better way to give back.”
