As a child, Jared Livingston was told by his father, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions.” It is a maxim he took to heart. On Sunday, Jared will graduate as the valedictorian of the high school class of 2016.

Valedictorian Sarah Ortlip-Sommers was editor of the school newspaper and took more AP classes in a year than most take in four. She calls her violin an extension of herself and credits her parents Michele Ortlip and Josh Summers for her achievements.

Skim the record books for the past four years of high school soccer, basketball and baseball, and you’ll notice a recurring name. Skim the grade books at the high school and you’ll notice the name again, this time at the top of the class, in the valedictorian spot for the class of 2013. Who is this Jack Roberts guy?

Scholar.

Athlete.

Entrepreneur.

Volunteer.

Fisherman.

Chef.

Pianist.

Wait, that last one hasn’t happened yet.

But regional high school senior William Stewart has been thinking about teaching himself to play the piano for a while now, and this summer, before he packs his bags and heads off to Harvard in the fall, might be the perfect time to learn.

A life on Martha’s Vineyard, last year in Delhi, next year in Cairo and Stanford after that. Some people might relish the comfort and security of the bounded Island domain, but Sarah Johnson, this year’s co-valedictorian at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, wants to explore.

She shares the honor with Mary Harrington, who could not be reached for an interview.

It seems appropriate, somehow, that the first reward Bethany Pennington received upon hearing that she was the valedictorian of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2009 was extra homework.

“The principal called me into his office and said, ‘You’re the valedictorian. You have to make a speech at graduation and it’s due in three weeks,’” she said, laughing, in an interview at her father’s office yesterday.