School history and archives · For principals, counselors and alumni directors
A valedictorian wall with room for every class, past and future
List every top graduate by class year, including the early years the plaque never covered. Each name opens a profile with a portrait, the graduation speech and what came next.
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What is a valedictorian wall?
A valedictorian wall lists the top graduate of each class year, usually with a name, year and portrait, and is often placed near the counseling office or auditorium. HistoryShowcase lets a school give every valedictorian a profile with their graduation speech and what came next, list co-valedictorians together in a ledger, and add the newest name each spring.
Updated
- Made for
- Principals, counselors and alumni directors
- Where schools put it
- Counseling office, Outside the auditorium, Senior awards night
- Layouts
- Honors ledger, Portrait gallery, Profiles
- Visitors can filter by
- Honor, Year
- Cost
- Free to use. No payment details required.
The plaque ran out of room, and it started late
Most valedictorian lists are a plaque by the counseling office or a page in the graduation program, and both stop where the space runs out. Early years are often missing, co-valedictorians get squeezed onto one line, and nobody remembers what any of them said at the podium or did after they walked out the door.
A valedictorian wall on a touchscreen lists every top graduate by class year and opens each name to a profile: a portrait, the speech or an excerpt, their activities in school and the path they took afterward. Adding the newest name the week of graduation is a short edit, and earlier names never have to move.
How does a valedictorian wall compare with an engraved plaque?
| What matters | Engraved plaque | HistoryShowcase |
|---|---|---|
| Running out of room | A new plaque once the plates fill | New names added without moving old ones |
| Co-valedictorians | Squeezed onto one engraved line | Each gets a profile, listed by year |
| Graduation speeches | Not recorded | Full text or an excerpt per profile |
| Early years | Often start where the plaque began | Rebuilt from programs and added any time |
| Permanence | Engraved and fixed in place | Edited in a draft, then published |
What belongs on a valedictorian wall
Every class year
From the first recorded valedictorian to this spring, with ties listed together.
Senior portraits
A portrait for each name, scanned from yearbooks for the early years.
Graduation speeches
The full speech or a short excerpt, with a photo from the ceremony if you have one.
Activities in school
Clubs, teams and service, so current students see more than a grade point average.
What came next
College, career or service in a sentence or two, shared with the graduate’s permission.
Salutatorians and other honors
Second in the class or other top awards, in their own collection if your school recognizes them.
How to set up your valedictorian wall
A ledger gives the full list at a glance; portraits put faces to it; a speeches collection keeps their words.
Your siteValedictorians
- Valedictorians by yearHonors ledger
One row per class year, with co-valedictorians listed together in the subtitle.
- PortraitsPortrait gallery
A senior portrait for each valedictorian, opening a full profile.
- Graduation speechesProfiles
Speech text or excerpts, with photos from the ceremony.
- SalutatoriansHonors ledger
The same layout for second in the class, if your school recognizes it.
Visitors can narrow it by
- Honor
- Year
How do you set up a valedictorian wall?
Rebuild the list from programs
Graduation programs and yearbooks name the valedictorian each year. Upload the programs and let Smart Add suggest entries to review.
Ask for speeches and updates
Reach out to past valedictorians for a copy of their speech and a line about what they do now.
Add the new name each spring
After graduation, add the newest valedictorian and their portrait, preview the change and publish.
Where should a valedictorian wall go?
- Counseling officeWhere students talk about the courses they choose.
- Outside the auditoriumOn the way into graduation, every year.
- Senior awards nightOpen the display as the new name is announced.
Valedictorian wall questions
How do we handle co-valedictorians?
Give each one a profile and list them together in that class year’s ledger row, or add a row for each with the same year. Either way, nobody shares a cramped line on a plaque.
Our list has gaps in the early years. What can we do?
Check graduation programs, yearbooks and old school newspapers for those years. Upload programs to Smart Add and review its suggestions. For years still missing, list the class year with a note asking alumni to help.
Should we include what valedictorians did after graduation?
Only with their permission. A short line about college, career or service shows current students where the path can lead, but leave it out for anyone who prefers privacy.
Can we include salutatorians or other honors?
Yes. Add them as their own collection and use an Honor filter, so visitors can choose between valedictorians, salutatorians or other top awards.
Related ideas
Put every top graduate back on the wall
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