Museum earns third Pinnacle Award for virtual programs

For the third year in a row, the Central Michigan University Museum of Cultural & Natural History received a Pinnacle Award for exceptional virtual programs.

The CMU Museum was named a recipient of the 2025-2026 Center for Interactive Learning & Collaboration (CILC) Pinnacle Award, which recognizes content providers whose virtual programs consistently receive exceptional evaluations from educators and participants.

"Every one of these recipients is setting the standard for interactive learning experiences,” said Allyson Mitchell, Director of Partnerships & Engagement at CILC. “Their programs connect learners with remarkable people, places, and ideas, creating experiences that continue to inspire long after the session ends.”

The CMU Museum has been a member of CILC since 2021and offers programs focused on cultural and natural history, as well as sessions that introduce middle and high school age students to college life at CMU. The museum has reached audiences both nationally and internationally.

The Pinnacle Award highlights the museum’s commitment to providing engaging educational experiences while also preparing Museum Studies students for future careers.

Offering virtual field trips helps the museum broaden its audience and also allows Museum Studies students to gain first-hand experience with technology and online engagement techniques. As museums increasingly incorporate virtual education into their program offerings, it is important for students in the Museum Studies program to learn how to engage and interact with virtual audiences.

The Lightboard Studio within CMU’s Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support has been instrumental in providing hands-on learning opportunities for Museum Studies students to use of state-of-the-art technology to develop skills they may encounter in their future careers.

CMU Museum graduate assistant Kayli Adams says presenting virtual programming has meant the world to her because she relied on similar programs as a kid.

“Not only do I get to expand my knowledge base via presenting virtual programs, but I also get to give other people the fun experiences I had when I was younger,” said Adams. “I always have a wonderful time presenting to audiences, but virtual audiences bring a fun 'surprise' factor, since you never truly know what you're going to get out of an audience, and you get to work with them in ways that you often miss out on with an in-person group.”

To learn more about the CILC Pinnacle Award visit the CILC website.