Penn State’s first lady was honored with the inaugural award of one of Penn State’s most recognizable organizations.

Molly Barron, the wife of Penn State president Eric Barron, received the first ever “Friend of the Blue Band” award at the band’s end-of-the-season banquet last month. The recognition, which will be awarded annually, intends to “celebrate an individual’s outstanding commitment to the Penn State Blue Band.”

“From the very beginning of the season, Mrs. Barron has been extraordinarily engaged and excited to interact with Blue Band students,” former Blue Band President Stephen Payne said. “When we decided to create an award recognizing a friend of the Blue Band, Molly Barron was certainly a model of what we had in mind. We are very happy to recognize the First Lady of Penn State in this way, and we look forward to her continued involvement with our program in the future.”

Barron has been a constant presence on campus and can be seen alongside her husband at events almost every day. Her affinity for the Blue Band is no secret; throughout the entire football season, she could be seen directing the band in ‘Hey Baby!’ every week in Beaver Stadium. She and her husband also hosted the entire band for a luncheon at the Schreyer House last season. It’s a love she carried over from Florida State, where she had a similarly close relationship with the Fighting Chiefs.