Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Now Accepting Nominations for Garrett Award and Lowry Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2024

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

POOL & HOT TUB ALLIANCE NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR LOWRY GRANT AND GARRETT AWARD
Winners receive $5,000 towards resources and education

(Alexandria, Va.) — The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, is now accepting nominations for both the 2024 Greg Garrett Scholarship Award and the 2024 Dr. R. Neil Lowry Grant. The winners will be honored at the PHTA Awards Luncheon at the World Aquatic Health Conference in Atlantic City, NJ, in January 2025.

Greg Garrett Scholarship Award

Developed by the PHTA Recreational Water Quality & Air Quality Committee (RWAQC) and given in memory of former member Greg Garrett, this $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to two PHTA members in the builder or service sector to use for PHTA educational or certification fees. PHTA is pleased to announce that Periodic Products, Inc. is sponsoring one of the two scholarships awarded this year.

“Greg Garrett understood the importance of continuing education, and that increasing individuals’ access to knowledge elevates the industry as a whole,” says Dr. Joseph Laurino, President and CEO of Periodic Products, Inc. “He was a colleague and dear friend to me and so many others in the pool, spa, and hot tub industry. Periodic Products is proud to help PHTA preserve his legacy by funding this annual scholarship.”

To be considered for the Greg Garrett Scholarship Award, an application form and two recommendations need to be provided. PHTA members can self-nominate or nominate a fellow member. The nomination deadline is Friday, November 29.

For more information and to submit a nomination form, visit www.phta.org/garrett-award.

Dr. R. Neil Lowry Grant

Given in the memory of Dr. Robert Neil Lowry, a long-time member of PHTA and the RWAQC, this $5,000 grant honors a public health official or department who has made outstanding contributions to advance the public’s health and safe use of recreational water in pools, spas, and waterparks through educational, safety, operational, and technical programs.

“PHTA’s mission is to promote safe and healthy pool and hot tub environments for people to share enjoyable aquatic experiences, and we understand the important role public health officials and departments play in fulfilling that mission,” says Jody O’Grady, Chair of the RWAQC. “Dr. Lowry believed in training public health officials as a way to better support safe and healthy water, and PHTA is pleased to be able to offer this grant in his name to honor his legacy.”

To be considered for the Lowry Grant, the public health official or department must describe their planned or proposed program, the service provided and how it benefits public health and safety, the impact of the expected results, and how the grant funds will be used. The nomination deadline is Friday, November 22.

For more information about the grant and to submit a nomination form, visit www.phta.org/lowry-grant.

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance:
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with over 3,900 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members' professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding 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.

About PHTA’s Recreational Water & Air Quality Committee (RWAQC)
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance’s RWAQC develops and maintains verifiable science-based information regarding sanitization technology and chemical products for use in pools, spas, and hot tubs. The committee also has an important role in the development of the chemical and sanitation sections for American National Standards Institute (ANSI) PHTA standards, including the ANSI/APSP/ICC-11 American National Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools and Spas. For a current listing of Committee members or more information, email standards@phta.org.