By Rev. Justin C. Jackson

At North American University, team builders usually strengthen chemistry. This one strengthened a life.

The NAU Men's and Women's Track & Field programs stepped off the oval and into the arcade lights of Main Event for what looked like a night of bowling, laser tag, pool tables, pizza slices, and game cards. But this wasn't just about strikes and high scores. This was about purpose.

Through our ongoing partnership with Team IMPACT, the Stallions officially signed a new teammate — Josiah "JoJo" McAfee of Sealy, Texas — to the NAU Track & Field family. JoJo, who has been diagnosed with kidney disease, is now an official member of the team through the Team IMPACT mentor program.

And make no mistake — this wasn't symbolic. This was a real signing. Offer letter. Commitment. Roster spot. Family.

Swiping the Card, Scoring in Life

If you've ever been to Main Event, you know the process. You swipe the card, the game lights up, and you get your shot.

That's what this night represented.

We swiped the card on bowling lanes and arcade games — but we also swiped the card on something bigger: empathy, camaraderie, resilience, and boldness.

Those are the core values of Team IMPACT, and they were on full display.

The Stallions competed in bowling (yes, bragging rights were involved), ran through laser tag like it was the anchor leg of a 4x400 relay, and turned the arcade into a sprint finish. But the biggest win of the night wasn't on the scoreboard.

It was JoJo officially becoming a Stallion.

The Offer Letter That Meant More Than Medals

Dated November 21, 2025, the letter welcomed JoJo with words that echo the heart of this program:

"Empathy. Camaraderie. Resilience. Boldness. These four values are at the core of Team IMPACT… and you represent all of these values, which is why we are pleased to inform you of your official recruitment to North American University Track & Field."

That's not charity. That's culture.

When you join this team, you don't just wear the colors — you carry the standard.

Leadership in Action

Big shout out to NAU All-American Keqwon Palm.

We already know he can blaze down the track and make plays on the football field. But leadership? That's a different kind of speed.

Keqwon's presence, his service mindset, and his example set the tone for the entire evening. And yes — for the record — he also won the bowling competition. Because apparently excellence travels across surfaces.

Leadership isn't always about the stopwatch. Sometimes it's about showing up for someone else.

More Than a Moment — A Season Commitment

Coach Kenneth Apande made it clear: this isn't a one-night event.

"We plan to make visits this spring to go to the hospital for his treatments. We've shared the track schedule with the family, and JoJo and his family plan to come out to some local meets."

That's what real mentorship looks like. Consistency. Follow-through. Presence.

And in between track practices and meets? JoJo and I run a little Fortnite every now and then. Because mentorship isn't a press release — it's relationship.

Running the Long Race

Track & Field teaches you something powerful: not every race is a sprint.

Some are distance runs. Some are hurdles. Some are relays where you have to trust the person next to you.

JoJo may be facing a difficult medical journey, but he's not running it alone anymore.

He's got sprinters, jumpers, throwers, distance runners — and an entire Stallion community pacing with him.

And if last night at Main Event proved anything, it's this:

The NAU Track & Field program knows how to build more than speed.
We build family.
We build resilience.
We build champions — on and off the track.

Go Stallions.