The following local residents graduated from Saint Michael's College during the 105th commencement exercises held on the college campus on May 14:

Nicholas Solari Franks, son of Claire Franks of Needham, graduated with a Bachelor of Science, cum laude degree in Biology.

Daniel Eamon Khalaj, son of Dianne and Mohammad Khalaj of Needham Heights, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude degree in Political Science.

Commencement speaker, MTV media pioneer and humanitarian Tom Freston, a member of the Saint Michael's graduate class of 1967, told the graduates that hard work is key to your future.

"My advice," he said, "is really to look for a career in fields that are on the ascent-social innoviation-and bring an old-fashioned work ethic to them."

"There is great value and sustaining dignity in good old-fashioned hard work, whether that means crunching numbers or cleaning bathrooms," Freston said.

Some 478 students received bachelor's degrees and another 65 received master's degrees at the commencement exercises held in the SMC Ross Sports Center. Some 4000 people including graduates and their families and friends, and faculty and staff of the college, located in Burlington, Vermont, heard excellent speeches from two students, from the college president, the chairman of the board, and from main speaker Tom Freston.