The 49ers Museum presented by Sony was honored with the "Education Programming Materials" Communication Award from the International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA), a non-profit member institution which promotes and supports organizations and individuals engaged in the celebration of sports heritage, during its annual conference in Williamsport, Pa. The 49ers Museum was internationally recognized by ISHA for its 49ers STEM Education Program Museum Education Playbook, which focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and its direct correlation to football.

The Communication Awards program was established by ISHA to provide recognition for excellence in publications by all member sports museums, halls of fame or sports heritage organizations, regardless of size or budget, based upon a competition evaluated by ISHA members and communications professionals.

The 49ers STEM Education Program, which opened in conjunction with Levi's® Stadium in 2014, provides learning platforms for K-8 students through its education program, which teaches content-rich lessons using the STEM principles of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program, a four-part field trip experience that includes museum exploration, a Levi's® Stadium tour, a movement lab, and STEM lesson, additionally leverages football as a platform in order to connect, inspire and engage each student.

"Since the program's inception in 2014, we've worked with Bay Area school districts to ensure our playbook material and lessons are aligned to 21st century learning skills, California Common Core, and Next Generation Science Standards," said 49ers Museum director Jesse Lovejoy. "The International Sports Heritage Association's Communication Award reaffirms the positive education impact we strive to make every day for youth across the Bay Area."

The 49ers STEM Education Program has disseminated its Education Playbook to more than 30,000 participants in its first year, with 50 percent of students coming from Title I designated schools. The 49ers STEM Education Program projects doubling that reach to 60,000 participants with the expansion of a new classroom opening this fall.

In addition to winning the communications award for the "Education Programming Materials" category, the Museum Education Playbook beat out nine other teams to be awarded the distinction of "Best In Show" by conference attendees.