PHOTOS: Lacey Township High School Graduation 2012

Approximately 350 Lacey Township High School students received diplomas under a cloudy and rainy sky at the school district’s 31st annual commencement.

Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower used Armando Perez, known by his stage name Pitbull and his hit Rain Over Me, to encourage the students to "achieve greatness against all odds" at her first Lacey Township High School Graduation. Despite a troubled childhood, Perez "achieved greatness against all odds" and now has 5,000,000 followers on Twitter, including Brower.

Brower then followed in the footsteps of former Superintendent Richard Starodub and told the graduating class that they are the "finest young men and women in Ocean County."

Principal William Zylinski, Board of Education President Jack Martenak, Class President Meagan Cronin, Salutatorian Kyle McGuire and Valedictorians Alexandra Granato and Garrett Waligroski also spoke.

Granato told the graduating class that the past is a part of their identities. 

"Who we were here won't get lost. Who we were here won't be forgotten," she said.

"LTHS is a place where memories are made and a future made possible," Waligroski said. He added that success isn't everything while encouraging his fellow classmates to explore, dream and discover. 

Graduates will be attending colleges such as American University, Boston University, the College of William and Mary, the Naval Academy Preparatory School, Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University, the College of New Jersey, University of Delaware, University of Massachusetts and more.