The valedictorian of my high school was the only student to leave the state.
I guess having the highest GPA gave them more opportunities in other states.
Yes, they went on to become very successful from what I could tell. 
It's interesting that that title is not used frequently in places like Austrailia and New Zealand.
I did not know that. Is there a ranking system in schools over there though?
ranking student in a graduating class is often referred to as "dux" (Latin for "leader"), and may or may not give a speech. In France the term "Major de promotion" ("first in class") is used, although the term is not related to any ceremonial role, as there are rarely graduation ceremonies in schools or universities.
Selection.
How an individual school confers the title is typically based upon the highest grade point average. Some institutions confer the title on the
, even though I don't show it as much. Love becomes a commodity when it's spoken of too highly and too frequently. I used to sing my praises very frequently when our love was new, like the nightingale which sings in the summer and stops at summers end. It's not that the summer is less pleasant for the nightingale, it's simply that the songs of other birds fill the air, and when things become common, they become less dear. It's for this reason, I, like