It may not be a Grammy, but Florida Atlantic is presenting celebrated artist Melissa Manchester with its Making Waves Award, an honor given to performers who have made a difference in the arts nationally and around the world.

The singer-songwriter signed her first publishing deal at the age of 17 and has since had a successful career in music performance and education.

Manchester received her first Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance in 1979 with the song “Don’t Cry Out Loud.” She won the award in the same category in 1982 with the song “You Should Hear How She Talks About You.”

Prior to the awards ceremony, Manchester will give a small interactive lecture to FAU commercial music students.

“We are very excited that Ms. Manchester will be able to share her past experiences with our students, as well as discussing how she is preparing current students for today’s market,” Rebecca Lautar, the head chairperson of the music department wrote in an email.

After her presentation, Manchester will receive FAU’s Making Waves Award, which was launched in 2012 by the College of Arts and Letters.

“Ms. Manchester currently teaches, records or performs with students at the University of Southern California, Citrus College, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and other arts training programs throughout the country, which demonstrates her passion for training today’s young artists,” Lautar wrote.

The presentation as well as the award ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in FAU’s Theater Lab in Parliament Hall. Tickets are $100 and available in the FAU Box Office and online.

Tucker Berardi is the features editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @tucker_berardi.