what is valedictorian

A valedictorian is the student with the highest academic rank in a graduating class, usually determined by the best grade point average (GPA). This student traditionally gives the farewell (valedictory) speech at the graduation ceremony.

Meaning and origin

• The word valedictorian comes from the Latin phrase vale dicere , meaning “to say farewell.”

• The role is tied to delivering a final goodbye or motivational address to classmates at graduation.

How schools choose a valedictorian

• Most schools award it to the student with the highest GPA in the graduating class.

• Some schools use weighted GPAs, giving extra points for advanced or honors courses.

• A few schools name multiple valedictorians if there is a tie or to honor several top students.

What a valedictorian does

• Delivers the main farewell speech at commencement, often reflecting on school years and encouraging classmates about the future.

• The speech usually mixes gratitude, short stories, light humor, and an inspiring message.

TL;DR: A valedictorian is the top-ranked student in a graduating class, usually by highest GPA, who gives the official farewell speech at graduation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.