Nominations are invited for the position of Valedictorian for the June 2026 graduating class. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, February 20, 2026 at 12pm (noon), using this form.
The position of Class Valedictorian is an honoured one, and we urge members of the graduating class to nominate their best qualified colleagues, although self-nominations will also be accepted. Nominations may be made by any member of the June 2026 graduating class, by completing the form below.
The ability to organize and present a speech in a clear and persuasive manner is important, as those nominated will be expected to present a speech (maximum five minutes) to the Selection Committee, and to the graduating class if selected.
Not all nominees will qualify. To qualify, nominees must be;
- graduating at the June 2026 convocation,
- have at least 80% or higher average at the time of the nomination, and
- be clear of any Academic Integrity and Campus Incident reports.
If there are ten or fewer qualified nominees, they will be contacted on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 to confirm they agree to their nomination.
If there are more than ten nominations received, the Selection Committee to make a shortlist of candidates on Friday, March 6. Nominees may be asked to answer 2-3 questions advocating why they should be considered for valedictorian. The Selection Committee will review the anonymous submissions, and select one student from each academic program (two students from Planning). If there are not any students from a program, another student will be considered until there are 10 nominees.
Final candidates will be contacted on Monday, March 9, 2026. Candidates will prepare to present their valedictory address to the Selection Committee in-person on the pre-examination day Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at which time the Valedictorian will be chosen.
The Selection Committee will include:
- Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies and/or Faculty Representative
- Student Engagement Officer,
- Ten members of the graduating class, who have not nominated a Valedictorian candidate.
If you do not wish to nominate and are interested in being part of the Valedictorian Selection Committee, please complete the Selection Committee Application Form.
Note: All correspondence will be directed to your University of Waterloo email only.
If you have any questions about the process, please contact Dana Elrick, Student Engagement Officer.
You must log in to view this form.