Fresh off his Grammy win for Best Musical Theater Album, playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda has become the first Latino playwright to be awarded the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for American History Drama.

The announcement was made on Feb. 22 in a press release by Columbia University, which distributes the annual award.

Related: Latin Post's exclusive interview with Lin-Manuel Miranda

Created by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith in honor of her brother and late Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the award is given for a play or musical that explores American history and promotes discussion about historical concepts still crucial to American culture.

"Hamilton" was chosen among four other nominees, which included "An Octoroon" by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, "Sweat" by Lynn Nottage, "Vietgone" by Qui Nguyen and "Indecent" by Paula Vogel.

The jury included several Columbia University professors, playwrights Kristoffer Diaz, Dominique Morisseau, Anne Washburn and Mona Mansour, composer Jeanine Tesori and librettist John Weidman. The judges released a statement supporting their choice and explaining their unanimous decision to give the award to "Hamilton."

“The committee felt that the spirit of the award is exemplified in this play. It enlists theater’s power to explore the past of the United States, participating meaningfully in the great issues of our day and grounded in the historical understanding that is essential to the functioning of a democracy. Technically so proficient, historically so sound, artistically so groundbreaking, Hamilton is both inspired by and celebrates the evolving history of the United States, of hip-hop, and of the musical theater," read the statement.

Past winners include "Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3" by Suzan-Lori Parks, "Detroit '67" by Dominique Morisseau, "All The Way" by Robert Schenkkan and "The Body of an American" by Dan O'Brien.

While "Hamilton" has been quite successful, Miranda had similar success with his Broadway debut "In The Heights." The playwright also won a Grammy and two Tony Awards for "In The Heights," and he was also a Pulitzer nominee.

Watch Miranda and the cast of "Hamilton" accept the 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.

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