In the United States and Canada, the title of valedictorian (an anglicized derivation from the Latin vale dicere 'to say farewell') is given to the top graduate of the graduating class (compare dux) of an educational institution. The title comes from the valedictorian's traditional role as the last speaker at the graduation ceremony.

This antiquated title is based on the calculated total credits of grades (overall GPA), a senior vote, the amount of dedication to certain extracurricular activities, the academic weight of classes taken, or SAT/ACT scores.

The Valedictory Speech

The graduation speech is a closing or farewell statement, address or oration delivered at a graduation ceremony. It is an oration or address spoken at commencement in American high schools, colleges or seminaries by one of the graduating class.

The mode of discourse is generally inspirational and persuasive. The many aims of this address is to thank, to inspire, to affect, and above all to say farewell to high school, college, or the seminary.

Controversy: The Vanishing Valedictorian

Valedictorian is one of many high school traditions, seen as the highest honor given to one graduating senior because of the standing ovation at the graduation ceremony.

In the past 5 years, the number of lawsuits over being the lone valedictorian has mounted to a point where the tradition became completely forsaken in some schools altogether. Instead, these schools take the top 5 to 10 percent of the graduating class rank. The noticeable disappearance of this competitive tradition became known as the Vanishing Valedictorian. In an attempt to avoid controversy, these schools spark debate over political correctness.

References

• New Yorker: BEST IN CLASS Students are suing their way to the top
• The Daily Star: From Valedictorian... to the Real World It takes years of hard work to attain the title of valedictorian. But in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t make a difference in the real world.

See also

• Grade inflation
• Salutatorian: The second highest rank

Qualifications | Academia