Penn State Blue Band officially introduced its next Blue Sapphire on social media, announcing incoming freshman Delaney Higgins as the program’s 18th Blue Sapphire.

Higgins, who is from Long Valley, New Jersey, will join Penn State this fall as a psychology major with a minor in special education in the College of Liberal Arts.

The Blue Sapphire role is one of the most recognizable positions within the Blue Band, with the feature twirler performing during football games, pregame routines, and other major university events throughout the year.

In the announcement shared by the Blue Band, Higgins reflected on what the opportunity means to her after years of dreaming about the role.

“I’m so incredibly grateful and honored to be the 18th Blue Sapphire,” Higgins said in a statement. “I have dreamed of becoming a feature twirler since I was 6 years old, and now getting to step into this role feels like a dream come true.”

She also expressed excitement about continuing the tradition tied to the position.

“I’m beyond excited to continue building on this amazing legacy at Penn State,” Higgins said. “WE ARE!”

The announcement has been met with excitement from Blue Band members, alumni, and Penn State fans in the comments section, welcoming Higgins into the Blue Band family ahead of the 2026 season.

The Blue Sapphire tradition has become a staple of gameday atmosphere at Beaver Stadium, where feature twirlers perform in front of crowds of more than 100,000 fans during Penn State football Saturdays.