‘Memo to Commencement Speakers: Be Brief and Sit Down’

In 2014, former director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama Jon Favreau ’03 gave a commencement speech that won’t soon be forgotten at Holy Cross — or the Boston Globe. In a recent article on the do’s and don’ts of commencement speeches, the Globe turned to Favreau for his expertise, recalling his successful speech on Fitton Field.

“It’s an incredibly difficult assignment,’’ he told the Globe in reference to the task of writing a commencement speech. “It’s also an incredible opportunity.’’

Favreau, who the Globe calls “one of the foremost speechwriters of our time,” advises commencement speech writers to tighten the lens on celebrating the graduates’ success, use humor, and keep the lessons short and sweet.

• Read the full article on the Boston Globe website. Related information • 2016 Commencement

This “Holy Cross in the News” item is by Jessica Kennedy.