Melania Trump Named 'Woman of Distinction' at Florida University for 'Be Best' Child Safety Work

Melania Trump is due to be honored by a university in Florida for her work with children under the White House's 'Be Best' initiative.

The first lady is set to be named an honoree of the Palm Beach Atlantic University's Women of Distinction event, an annual luncheon awarding those who have made "significant contributions" to the community.

The luncheon, the proceeds of which will be put towards a scholarship fund for female students at the university, is due to be held at The Breakers resort on February 19.

"In her role as First Lady, Mrs. Trump focuses her time on the many issues affecting children. An unwavering characteristic of the First Lady is her aptitude for showing love and compassion in all that she does," Palm Beach Atlantic University said in a statement.

"Mrs. Trump has traveled across the country and internationally to highlight programs and people who are dedicated to helping children overcome these modern-day concerns."

Tickets for the event, in which the first lady has "indicated her interest in attending," sold out soon after they became available, a Palm Beach Atlantic University spokesperson told Newsweek.

Trump launched her Be Best campaign in May 2018, focusing on the "three pillars" of children's safety—well-being, social media use and the opioid crisis.

At times, the first lady has been criticized for fronting the campaign while failing to speak out against her husband President Donald Trump's comments.

In September, #BeBest trended on Twitter after President Trump mocked the then 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg, with social media users accusing her of being "silent" on her husband's bullying of the teenager.

When she did make a rare public statement condemning Stanford University professor Pamela Karlan's comment about her son Barron Trump while testifying to the House Judiciary Committee in December, she was again accused of being a hypocrite after declaring "children that should be kept out of politics."

Many Twitter users took the opportunity to remind the first lady of President Trump's controversial separation policy which saw thousands of children removed from their parents at the border and held in detention center "cages."

Despite this, the university believes she deserves the honor bestowed upon her for being "an exquisite human being, a magnificent wife and life partner, a superb mother and an outstanding First Lady" who represents the U.S. "brilliantly" at home and abroad.

"Melania is a perfect example of a Woman of Distinction and we are most proud to honor her," Eileen Burns, co-chair of the event, told the Palm Beach Post.

The Be Best initiative has been contacted for comment.