CANDIA — Only eight seniors graduated from Jesse Remington High School on Friday night, but what the class of 2012 lacked in size, it made up for in camaraderie, gratitude and optimism about the future.

“We've grown to love this class,” said Rev. Bryan Moore, pastor of the Candia Congregational Church where the small multi-denominational Christian school got its start in 1992. While Moore said he will miss the eight seniors, who along with their parents, teachers and school staff have become an extended family, he also said he was excited to see what they will go on to accomplish.

Headmaster Jeffry Philbrick called the Class of 2012 creative, talented and wonderfully diverse. Four of the eight graduates are from South Korea. Philbrick thanked the many volunteers involved with the school for and told them they had “sowed life and sowed experience into the eight graduates.”

“Scholastically you've grown and you finish triumphantly,” he said.

All of the seniors had a a few minutes at the podium, and all of them graciously thanked parents, teachers, host families and one another.

Meghan Epperson, a graduate and Pelham resident said she sometimes asked herself why she came to a small private school that made her write miserably long papers.

But Epperson added that her time at Jesse Remington, where in addition to being challenged academically, students also travel around the world on different missions, or community services projects, had been amazing. This year, the students visited Canada on a school mission.

Adrinana Isabelle of Deerfield agreed that at times school was exhausting and demanding but she and her seven classmates managed to rise to the occasion.

“Our motto became if you believe in yourself, anything is possible,” she said.

Kyu Hyeon Lee, who has been at Jesse Reminton for four years and graduated as a high honor student, said that living in America has been “awesome.” He credited the school with opening his eyes to many of the challenges of life, and to fostering his spiritual growth.

Scott Shillaber, a member of the school's executive board, told the graduates to remember their years Jesse Remington as they head of to colleges and universites throughout the country.

“You've had relationships that you just don't have in other schools,” he said. “Keep in touch, stay close.”

Jesse Remington Class of 2012 graduates

Joshua Cross of Deerfield

Emily Davis of Londonderry

Meghan Epperson of Pelham

Adrianna Isabelle of Deerfield

Seung Gee Hong (David) of Candia (S.Korea)

Tae Hoon Kim (Felix) of Candia (S.Korea

Kyu-Hyeon Lee (Kay) of Deerfield (S. Korea)

Tae In Yoon (Tim) of Candia (S.Korea)