Valedictorian

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.

This honor is traditionally based on either grades and overall GPA or a vote of the graduating students, but consideration is sometimes also given to other factors such as extracurricular activities. The title comes from the valedictorian's traditional role as the last speaker at the graduation ceremony.

Famous valedictorians include the following:

• John Foster Dulles
• Steve Ballmer
• Melinda Gates
• Johnny Bench
• Conan O'Brien
• Cindy Crawford
• Robert Frost
• W. C. Handy
• Alicia Keys
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
• Ben Stein
• William Rehnquist
• "Weird Al" Yankovic
• Nicole Sullivan
• Dexter Holland
• Tiffany Amber Thiessen
• Eric Young

The second highest graduate is referred to as the salutatorian.

See also

• Grade inflation