NASHUA — Dressed in their Sunday best, a large crowd of eighth-grade students marched into Keefe Auditorium on Friday to say goodbye to their classmates and prepare for a new chapter in their young lives.

Joined by friends and family, the eighth-grade class at Elm Street Middle School graduated with high hopes for a promising future as high school students.

“I am pretty nervous about entering high school. As eighth-graders we were at the top of the school, but as ninth-graders we are going to be at the bottom again,” said a worried but enthusiastic Lindsey Steward. “I am wicked excited about leaving Elm Street, but I am sad at the same time. I am probably going to cry.”

She was not alone. Her fellow classmate, Megan Sweney, will attend Nashua High School North in the fall, but will be separated from some of her friends who will be enrolled at Nashua High School South.

“Some of these kids I may never see again. That is really sad,” said Sweney.

Others were thrilled about leaving behind their adolescence and embarking on a more mature journey of high school classes and preparation for college.

In the meantime, Noah Dulette, graduating eighth-grader, said he is primarily looking forward to summer vacation.

“I’m not going to do anything, and I am very excited about it,” said Dulette.

His friend and classmate, Mitch King, has plans to travel to Virginia and relax on the beach this summer. As far as leaving behind eighth-grade, King said he will mostly miss the young women.

But when asked what he is most excited about for high school, King’s comment, “Still the ladies, of course.”

On a more serious note, several eighth-graders were recognized on Friday by school administrators with various end-of-the-year awards.

Two students were the recipients of the Charles R. Cote Award, which is given to individuals demonstrating outstanding scholastic achievement and service to school and community. Jocelyn Chaput and Dody Eid were honored.

Two other students were the recipients of the Pauline Caron Award, given to individuals who demonstrate courage, perseverance and a motivating will to succeed. Colby Wygant and Sheikh Hanzla both obtained that award.

And, a special Matthew Matsis Award was given to Ezzy Frost, a student who reportedly flew into Elm Street Middle School like a tornado, worked hard and became a big-hearted and caring individual.

Olivia Charron, student council president, urged her classmates to remember middle school and celebrate all of the memories throughout the past three years.

“We are the oldest, the wisest and without a doubt, the coolest,” she said. “We have all grown up in middle school.”

Among the graduating class could be future presidents, athletes or scholars, according to Charron, who reminded them to be the best they could be upon entering high school and beyond.