valedictorian
noun/ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːriən/
/ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːriən/
(North American English)- the student who has the highest grades in a particular group of students and who gives the valedictory speech at a graduation ceremony compare salutatorianCultureMost schools also have a ‘salutatorian’, who has the next highest grades and gives the ‘salutatory’ speech (= speech of welcome to the event).
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valedictorian