For 2025 Convocation
We're glad you're thinking of running for valedictorian!
What is a valedictorian?
A valedictorian gives a farewell and congratulatory speech addressed to the students, their guests, and the institution. There will be one valedictorian per ceremony selected by graduates participating in that ceremony.
Valedictorians are selected by students in their ceremony, based on a candidate statement (video or written plus a photo) that will be posted online for the election. If only one nomination is submitted for a particular ceremony, that nominee will be declared to be elected by acclamation, and no election will be held for that ceremony.
How do I become a valedictorian?
To put your name forward for consideration, send an email to Convocation@viu.ca that includes the following information. The deadline is April 3, 2025, for all June 2025 ceremonies.
- Your full name as it is on your student record
- Your VIU student number
- Your program (MBA, Culinary Arts, etc.)
- This statement: "With this email, I declare myself a candidate for valedictorian. If I am found to be ineligible to graduate by May 26, 2025, I understand that I will also be ineligible to act as valedictorian."
- A short video presentation of you (maximum 2 minutes) answering the question, "Why should I be your valedictorian?" Please submit the video as an attachment to your email.
- OR, a written candidate statement (maximum 150 words) answering the question, "Why should I be your valedictorian?" Please submit the candidate statement (MS Word document) as an attachment to your email. AND,
- A photo (not too large, please) of yourself -- formal or informal. The photo should be in the highest resolution possible and at least 1 megabyte, and either a .jpg, .png, .tif, or raw file. Please submit the photo as an attachment to your email.
- OR, a written candidate statement (maximum 150 words) answering the question, "Why should I be your valedictorian?" Please submit the candidate statement (MS Word document) as an attachment to your email. AND,
- The email must be sent from the email address you have listed within your online student record.
Please note: Valedictorians must be confirmed graduates at the time of the ceremony. Students attending convocation as a "participant" (i.e. expected to graduate within 60 days of the ceremony) are not eligible to perform the duties of a valedictorian.
Convocation Valedictorian Election Process
April 3, 2025
Deadline for all nomination emails including videos, photos, and candidate statements to be submitted to convocation@viu.ca by midnight.
April 8 to 13, 2025
Valedictorian elections, one election per ceremony. All students who have requested to attend your ceremony, will be emailed instructions to view the videos or candidate statements/photos and vote on the valedictorian for that ceremony.
After the elections are complete, VIU staff will contact winning candidates to collect information for brief bios to be included in the online convocation, and to offer assistance with composing their speech.
See some examples of VIU's past valedictorians.