salutatorian

A salutatorian is the student who ranks second highest in a graduating class, traditionally determined by grade point average or class rank according to the policies of the school or district. The title is commonly associated with the person who delivers the opening or welcoming address at the commencement ceremony, though the exact duties can vary by institution. The term derives from the Latin salutatorius, meaning “one who salutes” or “one who gives a greeting.”

Selection methods differ among schools. Many use计算 class rank based on GPA, sometimes with weighting for honors or advanced placement courses; others use unweighted GPA or different criteria, and some districts do not publish official rankings. In cases of ties, schools may designate two or more salutatorians or resolve the tie through a committee decision. It is also possible for a school to name co-salutatorians or to have the designation contingent on meeting certain requirements.

Roles at the commencement ceremony can include delivering a welcome speech, greeting graduates and guests, and sometimes introducing the valedictorian or other speakers. The existence and duties of a salutatorian are not universal; some schools use alternative recognitions or have no formal second-ranking honors.

In practice, the salutatorian is a ceremonial title tied to academic achievement. The concept is most common in the United States, with regional variations in how the ranking is calculated and how the position is announced or performed.