Competing against approximately 14 schools from across Long Island, Rocky Point brought two teams to the event, where students were challenged to develop technology-driven solutions using artificial intelligence to help people in real-world situations.

The first team, comprised of Mahaer Chugh, Hope Franklin, Emily Hughes and Marcel Telang, developed “Safe&Found,” a website designed to help reconnect individuals separated during natural disasters. The platform allows users to upload and search for missing persons and was built and deployed as a fully functioning prototype during the competition.

The second team, William Lin, Daniel Lee, Nathan Watkis and Andrew Renta, created “R.E.A.C.H.” (Resilient Emergency Assistance Civilian Help), an AI-powered program that helps locate missing individuals. By combining image uploads with live video analysis, the system can identify potential matches and assist in search efforts. The team demonstrated a working model with impressive accuracy.

The R.E.A.C.H. team earned second place overall, with each student receiving a $75 gift card in recognition of their achievement.

Both teams demonstrated strong collaboration, creativity and problem-solving skills throughout the event. The experience provided students with valuable, hands-on learning while highlighting the real-world impact of technology.

Great work by all students who represented Rocky Point on this impressive stage.

Check out this article from Stonybrook on the event!