Masa Yamazaki ’23 (Tokyo, Japan) won PA-13's Congressional App Challenge for his app Secure Cam, which detects movements and alerts users with an alarm. Masa developed the app to help family members feel safe and secure. 

“As far as I knew, there was not any free app that utilized a webcam installed on a laptop or desktop as a surveillance camera,” said Masa, who developed the app over summer break, spending about 90 minutes a day on its development.  

Winners will be invited to Capitol Hill to demonstrate the apps to their representatives at a celebration called #HouseOfCode.

Winning apps are eligible to be displayed in the United States Capitol building and featured on the House of Representatives’ website, house.gov, for a year. 

The contest is sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives and is designed for middle school and high school students to encourage them to learn to code and pursue careers in computer science.

Masa said he appreciates the guidance and instruction he has received from Mercersburg Academy faculty members William Linch, Sean Crocker, and Andy Brown.

For information on the contest, go to www.congressionalappchallenge.us.