JFK High School Freshman Is Finalist In National Science Contest

Tyler Bissoondial, a freshman at John F. Kennedy High School, is one of the top 30 finalists in the national Broadcom MASTERS competition.

Of the 50,000 students competing in middle school science fairs last spring, about 2,300 received a nomination and submitted their research to compete at the national level. From these participants, 300 students were selected as semifinalists earlier this month, which included Kennedy’s Bissoondial and Adhith Jacob and Dillon Moi, current freshmen at Wellington C. Mepham High School.

Bissoondial conducted his research project, “Isolation and Characterization of Salt Tolerant Mutants in Raphanus sativa (Radish),” when he was in eighth grade at Grand Avenue Middle School. It focuses on addressing global soil salinization, which is an emerging problem facing crop productions.

"It was through arduous training and dedication, both over the summer and throughout the school year, Tyler Bissoondial reached success in the prestigious Broadcom MASTERS competition once again this year,” said Tami Cruz, his science teacher at Grand Avenue Middle School, noting that he was also a 2018 national finalist.

As a result of being selected as a finalist, Bissoondial will have the opportunity to share his research project on a national stage and compete with other students for more than $100,000 in top awards. The Broadcom MASTERS Finals will be held in Washington, D.C. from Oct. 25 through 30.