Being a body double at the presidential debate

When Jewell Christian Stewart was accepted into Hofstra University last year, little did he know he would be a stand-in for Lester Holt, moderator of the 2015 presidential debate at Hofstra University.

Soon after starting at Hofstra, he joined the university’s speech and debate team, and went on to receive multiple debate awards. He also got involved in the dean's advisory board, where he discussed campus issues and means of resolving them.

When news came that Hofstra was going to host the presidential debate this year for the third election cycle in a row, Jewell quickly submitted an application for any volunteer position he could get. He soon received a peculiar call from the director of communications for student affairs, and the Commission on Presidential Debates asking how tall he was. Eventually, he was offered a position as the stand-in for moderator Lester Holt, so that he and other stand-ins could make sure everything was well prepared for the real debate later on.