An A.E. Phillips Laboratory School student has received national recognition from a STEM competition for middle school students.

Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public announced that Anhaar Wasi, an eighth-grade student at AEP, as one of the Top 300 MASTERS in the 10th annual Broadcom MASTERS — the nation’s premier Science, Technology, Engineering and Math competition. The Broadcom MASTERS, a program of the Society for Science & the Public, seeks to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators to solve the grand challenges of the 21st century.

More than 3,000 students from 42 states and Puerto Rico applied in the competition. Wasi’s science project title was “How Does pH Affect Acid-Base Reactions?”

“We would like to thank A.E. Phillips and express deep gratitude to Mrs. Michelle Blount for her guidance and encouragement throughout the year,” said Nazimuddin “Wasi” Wasuddini, Anhaar’s father. “Broadcom Masters is doing an excellent job preparing the next generation of innovators and leaders in STEM fields. I think the short essays they write open their minds and make them think creatively and bring tremendous confidence in them. We are really glad for this recognition and think Anhaar had an excellent learning experience throughout last year in this competition.”

Blount, an AEP middle school science teacher, said she was very proud of Wasi’s work.

“Science is my passion and I enjoy fostering STEM skills with students,” Blount said. “In our annual AEP science fair, students choose a topic of interest for their projects and conduct their own independent research during the summer break. Anhaar fully invested his time and talents into his project and I am grateful that his excellent work is being recognized. I’m so proud of him and anticipate that he will continue to excel in his academics and STEM competitions.”

Jenny Blalock, director of AEP, said the whole school was cheering on their champion in the competition.

“I am proud of Anhaar. He is a talented student, and I am pleased he is being recognized for his outstanding achievement,” Blalock said. “I am also thankful to Mrs. Blount for inspiring a love of STEM in her students. It’s nice when students and teachers have an opportunity to shine. Education is not easy work, but helping each student reach their potential is rewarding.”

A.E. Phillips Laboratory School is a kindergarten through eighth grade school housed on the campus of Louisiana Tech University under the direction of Tech’s College of Education. A.E. Phillips is known for its strong academic focus and innovative teaching strategies as well as its emphasis on the arts. The school is seen as a model for technology in the classroom. AEP serves as a site for Louisiana Tech education majors to observe and practice effective teaching strategies in a supportive environment.