I just graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. I could've been Summa but didn't really start applying myself until my Junior year.
Our valedictorian was elected by the graduating class. It had nothing to do with grades.
That's interesting. I've never heard of it going that way, even today, and I recently attended a graduation for my friend's daughter.
We were elected by the faculty based mostly on grades and then your extracurricular activities. Salutatorian was then chosen for the same reasons, with a little less emphasis on grades.
Otherwise it seems like it would be a popularity contest rather than an acknowledgment of someone working their butt off, and you could wind up with someone who didn't really deserve it just because he was Prom King.
That's interesting. I've never heard of it going that way, even today, and I recently attended a graduation for my friend's daughter.
We were elected by the faculty based mostly on grades and then your extracurricular activities. Salutatorian was then chosen for the same reasons, with a little less emphasis on grades.
Otherwise it seems like it would be a popularity contest rather than an acknowledgment of someone working their butt off, and you could wind up with someone who didn't really deserve it just because he was Prom King.
Well, my school did it the electoral way, but first the teacher nominated 5 or so nominees (based on the criteria you mentioned).
Though I agree with you in the regard of it being a popularity contest (if the responsibility is placed solely in the students' hands), I also feel it wouldn't do the award justice if you left out students' input.
I don't think that somebody who spends night and day in his or her room, reading books and doing mindless schoolwork without partaking in any of the social and community events, is a good representation of the graduating class.
After all, the valedictorian is the 'figure head' of the graduating class, so it would stand to reason that the students had something to do with the electoral process. Frankly, a hermit is no better a representation of a class than a mindless jock. The honour should be given to somebody who did well in academics and extra-extracurriculars, but was ACTUALLY a part of the student body.
High School: tied for 11th out of 450 or so
I remember a lot of us had the exact same GPA, just bordering on 3.9 or so.
College: Cum Laude (3.5 GPA)
Grad School: Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA)