Harvard Valedictorian?

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>Does Harvard College choose a class valedictorian for commencement? I was reading some article about their valedictorian becoming a nun and some one corrected the article saying she was just a commencement speaker. </p>

<p>"Harvard does not have valedictorians. Mary Anne Mark (mentioned in another answer here) was one of three student speakers chosen by a vote of the students in 2010. <a href=“http://catholicism.org/2010-harv[/url]”>http://catholicism.org/2010-harv&lt;/a&gt;...&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Speaking during commencement is typically reserved for valedictorians. However, Harvard has a different system in which students are chosen for a serious speech, a latin speech, and a humorous speech. The article referenced in one answer incorrectly identified Mary Anne Mark as a valedictorian."</p>

<p>Here is the link:
*[Harvard</a> Prizes & Honors: Who have been the valedictorians of Harvard College and what are they doing now? - Quora](<a href=“http://www.quora.com/Harvard-Prizes-Honors/Who-have-been-the-valedictorians-of-Harvard-College-and-what-are-they-doing-now]Harvard”>http://www.quora.com/Harvard-Prizes-Honors/Who-have-been-the-valedictorians-of-Harvard-College-and-what-are-they-doing-now)</p>

<p>Is it true Harvard does not have valedictorians?</p>

<p>*I searched also and there was nothing about a past valedictorian from Harvard, so I was hoping someone on here might know.</p>

2

<p>Does harvard rank students? Do they designate ‘cum laude’ (sp?) on diplomas, or other honor designations? :confused:</p>

3

<p>There are no rankings nor a valedictorian. Nonetheless, Mary Anne was among the top, or, suggestively at the top (as she was a junior 24 PBKer as well as a PBK marshal). However, the speeches are selected by committee. The fact that Marks gave the Latin speech surely speaks to her strength in the Classics. </p>

<p>There are honors which are listed on your diploma, namely, Latin honors (summa, magna and cum). These honors are classwide. Then, there are English honors which are related to your concentration, however, these will only be on your transcript.</p>

4

<p>There are three speeches in morning commencement exercises: a Latin salutatory (it’s the first speech, not the one by the second-highest ranked graduate. Comes from the time when Harvard grads had to pass Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tests to graduate), a speaker from the FAS, and a graduate school speaker. At the Alumni Association meeting following the house and grad school diploma ceremonies (where the dean or house master speaks), President Faust gives a report to the alumni and someone who was awarded an honorary doctorate gives another speech.
At class day, four undergrad seniors speak (two male, two female), while an invited speaker gives another speech.
At Baccalaureate, Professor Gomes, Faust give speeches, and five or so students read from different religious texts.
AND at Phi Beta Kappa exercises, an invited poet gives a recital and (I think) a faculty speaker speaks.</p>

5

<p>Harvard has a kind of valedictorians. It is a Sophia Freund prize winners.</p>