The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance named this year’s recipients of the PHTA Scholarship and the Greg Garrett Scholarship.
The PHTA Scholarship Program honors public pool or spa operators pursuing further education to better protect public health. PHTA-certified professionals and immediate family members qualify for the funds, which may be applied to college tuition.
The most recent recipients are:Richard Hauser, Cecilia Oseguera, Egan Barzilay, and Kaitlyn Forney.
Hauser and Oseguera received the $2,000 Board Scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year. Barzilay and Kaitlyn Forney, both children of CPO instructors, each received $1,000 for the 2024-25 academic year.
The 2024 Greg Garrett Scholarship was started in the memory of Greg Garrett, a 45-year industry veteran, who held many leadership roles. The $5,000 scholarship, awarded by PHTA’s Recreational Water & Air Quality Committee, goes to PHTA members in the builder or service sector. The funds may be applied to PHTA educational or certification fees. A matching sponsorship from Periodic Products made it possible to name two winners.
This year’s award went to Matthew Ryther, service manager at Acqua Pura Pool Service, and Jeff Johnson, president of Midwest Pools.
Ryther has earned several professional certifications, including Certified Pool & Spa Operator, Certified Service Technician, and Certified Advanced Pool Builder Professional. He also serves on the PHTA Service Council and the PHTA-11 Standard Writing Committee to develop the standard on water quality in public pools and spas.
Johnson recently became a Certified Master Pool Builder & Design Professional. He has expanded his business from aboveground pool installation to custom concrete pool construction and design, and is planning to expand into pool service and maintenance.
