Chocowinity Middle School ended the year for its eighth-grade students with its annual Moving Up Ceremony on June 8 in the newly renovated gymnasium.

Ninety-five eighth-graders were promoted to ninth grade during the ceremony, attended by a room full of friends and families. The ceremony was opened with Principal Dale Cole welcoming everyone. Next, the invocation was given by Megan Godley, student government secretary, with Southside High School Principal Rick Anderson then welcoming the class of 2016 to the ninth grade. Melissa Leyva, SGA vice president, introduced the awards section of the program, with Assistant Principal Mark Clinkscales, Cole and core-area teachers presenting awards. The Beaufort County Genealogical Society Award was presented to Zach Paramore for outstanding performance in eighth-grade social studies. After the presentation of the Moving Up certificates to each student, SGA President Haley Hodges presented her farewell remarks. Cole then closed the ceremony, bringing an end to the eighth-graders’ middle-school years.