At this time of year valedictorians receive much recognition. And rightly they should. They have overcome many an obstacle: temptations to cut corners and skip homework; juggling time commitments with clubs and out-of-school chores; fatigue from staying up late to do ALL homework; and being impervious sometimes to peer jealousy, if not ridicule. On some occasions the valedictorians are invited to special luncheons, pose to get their photos snapped for local and regional newspapers, and have their names published in graduation programs.

But I want to acknowledge here the salutatorians of our high schools – from Boston Latin Academy and Ursuline to Norwood High School and Fontbonne as well as all the others in between. These are the graduates who finished with the second-highest Grade Point Average (GPA), frequently just a tenth of a point behind the valedictorians. Frequently – and somewhat painfully – they don’t receive the recognition that the esteemed valedictorians do.

While the word “valedictorian” comes from the Latin meaning of the past participle of “valedicere” meaning to speak well, the word for our second-best performer also comes not surprisingly from the Latin, “salutare” meaning to greet. Hundreds of years ago, the bearers of this word would welcome those attending the commencement exercises. One can see how the military word “salute” came into being with its physical gesturing.

There aren’t too many places where second-place finishes receive recognition – certainly not in professional sports such as the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB where even the most diehard of fans might have trouble recalling the runners-up in championship games. At least, the Olympics bring the second-place finishers (and third-place as well) onto the podium to receive their silver and bronze medals respectively.

Advertisement

Frank Sinatra even sang a song that seems to bespeak salutatorian status: “We Almost Made It.” While the song references love, the title could characterize salutatorians’ “plight” of coming close to making a full, unparalleled success of their academic strivings.

So, here’s to you, all you almost-valedictorians at whatever high school from which you are receiving diplomas. May you receive recognition at America’s restaurants, barbecues, and graduation parties as adults over the age of twenty-one hoist a Budweiser and proclaim in a solemn toast—reminiscent of an Anheuser-Busch advertisement from a few years ago, “Salutatorians, this Bud’s for you.”