Jalen Townsend became a father at age 15 and served three tours of duty in the U.S. Army, but that didn't stop him from earning his degree from UofL.
Jalen Townsend became a father at age 15 and served three tours of duty in the U.S. Army, but that didn't stop him from earning his degree from UofL.

Jalen Townsend became a father at age 15, served three tours of duty in the U.S. Army and, in December, became a UofL graduate.

The former star athlete from Anderson, Indiana, had his son during his sophomore year of high school. He joined the Army when he was 19, and after three tours around the globe, Townsend knew he had to take the next step for his son – college. 

“I was very determined to get here, especially being a father at a young age. The goal is always get back home. I did what I had to do but it’s time to make that transition home and be a dad again,” he said. 

Check out Townsend’s story below. 

 

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Mark Hebert
Following a 28-year career as a radio and television reporter, Mark Hebert joined the University of Louisville as the Director of Media Relations in 2009, serving as the main spokesperson. In 2015, Mark was named Director of Programming and Production. He’s now producing and hosting a radio show about “all things UofL”, overseeing the university’s video and TV productions and promoting UofL’s research operation. Mark is best known for his 22 years as the political and investigative reporter for WHAS-TV in Louisville where he won numerous awards for breaking stories, exposing corruption and objectively covering Kentucky politics. In 2014, Mark was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.