Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Announces 2022 Scholarship and Fellowship Recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2022

Media Contact:
Amy Willer
Associate Director, Marketing and Communications
703-838-0083, ext. 121 | awiller@phta.org

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Announces 2022 Scholarship and Fellowship Recipients

(Alexandria, Va.) - The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) is pleased to announce the five recipients of the 2022 PHTA Fellowship and PHTA Scholarship Programs: Graham Lamb, Emily Broom, Colton Morris, Jason Marsh, and Meghan Partrick.

The PHTA Fellowship Program exists to encourage and support graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who focus research in areas associated with water-treated aquatic venues. Graham Lamb is the recipient of a $2,000 Board Fellowship. He is pursuing a Master of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Lamb has been involved in two research studies: regenerative media filter and how effectively it removes Cryptosporidium from recreational water; and measuring parameters such as chlorine, pH, and alkalinity at Charlotte-area aquatic venues.

“We were so impressed with Lamb’s research,” says Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President and CEO of PHTA. “PHTA’s core purpose is to promote safe and healthy pool and hot tub environments, and the studies that Lamb has conducted tie into that perfectly. His graduate-level work will lead to real-world impacts on recreational water quality and improve bathers’ health and enjoyment of aquatic facilities.”

The PHTA Scholarship Program was founded to honor public swimming pool or spa operators who have pursued further education to better protect public health. To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be a certified pool professional or an immediate family member and must submit an application package for the PHTA Board to review. This year’s application asked students to write an essay answering the question: If you had a $100,000 budget, how would you spend that money to positively affect unintentional drownings?

Emily Broom, who attends the University of Central Florida, and Colton Morris, who attends Arkansas Tech University, both received $2,000 Board Scholarships. Broom is the daughter of a PHTA CPO Instructor, and Morris recently earned his CPO certification. Broom’s essay focused on raising awareness through learn-to-swim and drowning prevention organizations, as well as highlighting the need for specialized swim safety education for children with autism, who are even more at risk of drowning. Morris’s essay explained how swim lessons need to be more accessible across communities and that aquatic facilities should invest in and regularly inspect safety features such as fencing, alarms, and pool covers.

“The two winning essays truly spoke to me on a personal level,” says Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, Vice President of Partnerships & Development at PHTA and head of the Step Into Swim drowning prevention initiative. “Nearly 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings happen in the United States every year. As an industry, we should be constantly looking for ways to reduce that figure. Broom and Morris both understand the life-saving role swim lessons play in preventing drownings.”

Additionally, Jason Marsh from Volunteer State Community College and Meghan Partrick from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received $1,000 Foundation Scholarships. Both Marsh and Partrick are CPO certified lifeguards. Their essays both covered the importance of proper lifeguard training, including rescue drills and “drop tests” that involve pulling a mannequin or doll from the water.

Formal recognition of this year’s recipients will occur at the World Aquatic Health Conference in Houston, TX, during the Awards Reception on October 12. To learn more about the PHTA scholarship and fellowship programs, please visit https://www.phta.org/education-and-events/grants-and-scholarships/.

For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA Associate Director of Marketing & Communications, at awiller@phta.org or 703-838-0083 ext. 121.

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with more than 3,600 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA facilitates the expansion of swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.