The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance is proud to announce the winners of the PHTA Scholarship for 2023. The PHTA Scholarship Program honors public swimming pool and spa operators who pursued additional education in order to protect public health.
Kate Perry and Kaitlin Hamacher are this year’s recipients.
The PHTA Board will review the application packages of applicants who are PHTA-certified pool professionals or immediate family members. The essay question for this year was: What would you do with $100,000 to create a water safety programme in your community? How would it help children feel inspired, confident and empowered around water?
Kate Perry who is a student at Georgia Southern University received a $2,000 Board Scholarship. Perry has a PHTA Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) certification and is a certified lifeguard and first aider by the American Red Cross. She has held numerous jobs in the aquatics sector, including lifeguard, aquatics manager, and service technician. Perry’s essay was centered on the generational barriers that cause fear of water, and how to develop a swim program for children and their primary caregiver. She stressed the importance of having swim instructors who are certified and properly trained in water safety.
Kaitlyn hamacher who is a student at Western Michigan University received the $1,000 Foundation Scholarship. Hamacher’s father is a PHTA Certified Professional Instructor. She holds an Associate’s degree in studio arts and double majors in psychology and studio art. In her essay, she explained how swimming safety education and pool covers can help reduce drowning rates. Her program would assist residential pool owners in equipping their pools with safety cover, and provide additional learn to swim programs through initiatives like PHTA’s Step Into Swim.
Rowdy Gaines is the vice president for Partnerships & Development and the head of Step Into Swim, a drowning prevention program led by PHTA’s Rowdy. He has won an Olympic Gold Medal. “Hamacher and Perry both recognize that drowning prevention requires a coordinated community effort with tangible results. Water safety programs, such as those described in the essays of this year, can make a difference and save lives.
The formal recognition of this years recipients will take place at the World Aquatic Health Conference, in Las Vegas, Nev. during the CPO 50 th anniversary luncheon on the 13th November. To learn more about the PHTA Scholarship Program, visit https://www.phta.org/education-and-events/grants-and-scholarships/scholarships/.
Contact Amy Willer at [email protected] (703) 838-0183 ext. 121.
