While the legitimacy of Penn State’s arts scene is often a topic of debate, there remain a handful of events — both on and off campus — that PSU music connoisseurs ought not miss. Singer/songwriter/poet/visual artist Patti Smith’s up-coming performance is one of them.

The Penn State Institute for the Arts and Humanities has chosen Smith to receive the 2013 IAH Medal for Distinguished Achievement. And not without good reason. Patti Smith made her break into the New York punk rock music scene in the 1970s with her first album “Horses” in 1975 (check it out, just do it!) and has since produced a grand total of 11 studio albums, as well as a film biography and personal memoir. Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

You can make your way to Eisenhower Auditorium October 15 for “An Evening with Patti Smith” for $15 if you’re a student. (Sorry general admission folks, you’re gonna have to pay $35.) But don’t worry, it will be worth it to see the music legend in action. She will be performing in addition to receiving her award. The event begins at 7:30 and tickets are available through the Center for the Performing Arts.

If you’re not yet familiar with punk rock Patti but would like to be, check out her Billboard hit “Because the Night“. If you have perused enough classic rock radio stations in your past, it just might ring a bell. But of course, it is never too late to discover a new musical favorite.