Secure Watch Secures Spot in Texas A&M AI Competition Finals

COLLEGE PARK, MD‍

Secure Watch, an ambitious team of University of Maryland students competing in xFoundry's School Safety Xperience Competition, has taken their innovative solutions to new heights by advancing to the final 12 in Texas A&M’s AI competition. This team of forward-thinking innovators is on a mission to reimagine school safety through the power of AI.

Team members are Felix Ogordi (Computer Science), Parthiv Deb (Information Science), Ethan Chang (Computer Science), Joshua Henriquez (Criminology and Criminal Justice), Rachit Kamdar (Information Systems), Viraj Boreda (Computer Science), Kedaar Vyas (Computer Science), and Hugh Cohen (Finance). Together, they are bringing diverse expertise and a fresh vision to the pressing need for smarter, safer schools.

Secure Watch's groundbreaking solutions—originally developed as part of their participation in xFoundry's School Safety Xperience Competition—have paved the way for their success in Texas A&M’s AI competition. On July 1, the team pitched their AI-driven proposal to an expert panel of judges, and advanced to the final 12 among 103 submissions from 37 universities across the country. Their innovative, impactful approach stood out, earning them a coveted spot in the finals.

“Competing in xFoundry’s School Safety Xperience Competition has been instrumental in refining our ideas,” notes one Secure Watch team member. “We’ve used that experience to build solutions that not only address a critical societal issue, but also stand up to the rigorous competition at Texas A&M.”

Recognized for fostering groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence, Texas A&M's AI contest offers finalists the chance to demonstrate their ideas on a national stage. The stakes are high, with prizes of $100,000 for first place, $50,000 for second, and $25,000 for third at the final event, scheduled for September 12-13.

Secure Watch has significant milestones ahead. The team will face their Finals Verification for the School Safety Xperience Competition on July 29, where winners could receive valuable investments ranging from $250,000 to $2 million to launch their solutions as a new venture. Following this, the final pitch for Texas A&M’s AI competition September 12-13 will see Secure Watch again prove their readiness to create real-world impact.

Their dual success story underscores a powerful message for students everywhere—that combining bold ideas with interdisciplinary collaboration can drive both innovation and tangible change. Secure Watch is poised to inspire and lead the next generation of changemakers.

About Secure Watch 

Secure Watch is a student-led team competing in xFoundry's School Safety Xperience Competition. Through innovative AI solutions, they aim to transform and enhance safety measures in schools. By addressing real-world challenges with multidisciplinary expertise and collaborative ingenuity, Secure Watch is redefining what’s possible for school safety.