Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution. The term is an
anglicized derivation of the
Latin vale dicere ("to say farewell"), historically rooted in the valedictorian's traditional role as the final speaker at the
graduation ceremony. The valedictory address generally is considered a final farewell to classmates, before they disperse to pursue their individual paths after graduating. The title of class valedictorian is common in educational institutions in the
Philippines,
Canada and the
United States, while its equivalent in
Australia,
New Zealand,
South Africa,
Iceland, and
Scotland is
dux. Its equivalent in
France is "Major de promotion".