The video begins with images and the words...."your first tooth.....your first words......your first pet.....your first bike....." With a crescendo and pulsating volume, the images and words on the Jumbotron quickly change to ......"your first power tool ..... your first challenge ......... your first competition......your first award." Your pulse quickens, the excitement building. You're experiencing a USFIRST Robotics Competition!

Since Jan. 5, 1,500 high school teams with over 37,000 students from every state in the US, as well as Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the UK have been building a robot from a common kit of parts over a six-week period to compete in 41 regional events worldwide, one held locally this past weekend at the University of Denver.

Who could have guessed there would be a team in the U.S. Highway 285 corridor that would get involved in such cutting edge technology? Foregoing video games, television,and the mall, these students have been focused on brainstorming, designing, building and programming a robot to execute this year's challenge ...... and compete they did! Meet Team Blitz.

Last year a first-time, rookie team, the students of Team Blitz won a 6K grant from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) which paid for their kit of parts and the registration fee to their inaugural regional event.

There they won the Rookie All Star award, and a berth to the USFIRST Robotics World Competition at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Funded by donations from area businesses, corporations, and individuals, what they learned there in 2007 prepared them for this year's competition.

Composed of students who live along the U.S. 285 corridor and in the foothills, young people from Conifer, Colorado Virtual Academy, Mullen, D'Evelyn, West Jeff Middle School, as well as many homeschooled students have worked side by side since January to complete the challenge for 2008.

Community outreach, educational programs, fundraising, and many late nights of building all culminated March 28-30 in the Magness Arena at the Ritchie Center on the campus of DU.

Of 48 teams in attendance from local Colorado school districts and six states, Team Blitz earned seventh place with their masterful robot, and the 2008 Kleiner/Perkins/Caufield/Byers Entrepreneurship Award.

Complete with omni-drive wheels, a gyroscope, optical shaft encoders, an infrared sensor, and Kevlar arms, the robot competed in well over a dozen matches throughout the weekend.

Although eliminated from the championship round, Ken and Donna Rillings, organizers of the team, asserted: "With all they have learned about robotics design, programming, sportsmanship and teamwork, everyone is definitely going home a winner."

This year's team drivers Bryan Adrian, Nathan Grubb, Brian King, and Jared Rillings all agreed. "This is as exciting as any sporting event," they said. "It's a different kind of March Madness." The wild cheering and thunderous applause throughout the day underscored their conclusion.

Building a robot once every winter is not an end in itself for Team Blitz though.

Winning the 6K grant from NASA a second time for the 2008 competition and working throughout the year, the students, their parents, and their mentors have helped heighten awareness of science and technology throughout the mountain corridor. In addition to appearing before the Colorado Legislature and the Conifer Chamber of Commerce, Team Blitz participated in the Conifer HS Sports and Club Fair, the Conifer Christmas Parade, and the CSAI Conference in Denver.

They have introduced the community to robotics through a month-long window display at the Evergreen library, two Open Houses, and more recently a Robotics Expo at Our Lady of the Pines church.

Responding to considerable interest and great enthusiasm, the students are organizing a robotics camp for younger students this summer. More details for your budding scientist or computer programmer will be available in coming weeks on their website: teamblitz.net

USFIRST founder Dean Kamen describes the vision of FIRST (For Inspiration of Science and Technology): "to transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated .....where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.

What we do today may inspire someone to cure cancer, or to build an engine that doesn't pollute. Robots are just a vehicle to help make the world a better place for everybody."

FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs that introduce and excite young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, communication, leadership, and life skills. These programs include the Junior FIRST Lego League (ages 6 - 9), the FIRST Lego League (ages 9 - 14), the FIRST Tech Challenge and the FIRST Robotics Competition (both for high school ages). Find out more about all these age groups at their extensive website: usfirst.org

Team Blitz is building a reputation for excitement and success. These engineers and programmers of tomorrow are getting a leg up today by participating in programs and organizations designed for youth. With the considerable investment of time and energy from mentors and volunteers, generous in-kind donations and financial support from area businesses and corporations, and the exciting possibility of $9 million in scholarships from participating colleges and universities, Team Blitz is helping to inspire young scientists and engineers right here in our community, bringing robotics to the mountains and waging robot battles, one year at a time.