Tristan Bissoondial, a student at Grand Avenue Middle School, was named one of 300 semifinalists in the Broadcom MASTERS competition.

Bissoondial was invited to participate in the Broadcom MASTERS after his research project, “Glycine Betaine Improves Tolerance to Cadmium in Lemna minor” earned first place in the category of Environmental Science at the Tri-County Science and Technology Fair. That event was held virtually last school year.

“Tristan is a very hardworking and talented student who puts forth his best effort in all his endeavors,” explained his science teacher Tami Cruz. “He has made everyone at Grand proud with his accomplishment but, more importantly, with his personality. Words that describe him best are sweet, compassionate and patient."
Bissoondial competed as a seventh grader last school year.

“He had this opportunity because he was and is a member of our Grand Avenue Research Club called the Students Network of Cooperative Science, which is open to both seventh and eighth grade students,” explained Cruz.

High school members are invited back to Grand to mentor the seventh and eighth graders.

The Top 300 MASTERS were selected from 1,841 students from around the country. Broadcom MASTERS is the nation's premier Science, Technology, Engineering and Math competition for middle school students. The Broadcom MASTERS, a program founded and produced by the Society for Science & the Public.