March 30- April 1, 2006 will find 48 high-school-aged teams of young people at the Richie Center in Denver for the Colorado Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.

Jonathan Broyles, of Parker, will be there as one of two Lead Robot Inspectors. This will be his third time volunteering with the competition while taking more than 3 days away from his Parker based business, Image & Sound Forensics.

Mr. Broyles knows first hand how a teacher or mentor can positively influence a young person. "I was in sixth grade at West Jr. High School in Aurora, " Mr. Broyles said, "and Mrs. Curtis, my math teacher, had a Teletype in her classroom. I asked her what it was for, and, sensing my keen interest in all things technological, she opened the door for me to begin learning how to write computer code."

In 1972, Broyles' father moved the family to Parker. In 1984, Broyles Engineering, with Jonathan Broyles as vice president, designed and implemented the first automated dispatch system for the Parker Fire Department.

"That initial exposure in elementary school to computer technology led the way to my life's work. Interacting with these young people allows me to pass on Mrs. Curtis' gift. Encouraging teamwork and planning," he says, "as well as cooperation with other teams to form alliances are real world skills that I learned and hope to share this week."

The FIRST Robotics Competition is an exciting, multinational competition that teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. For more information on FIRST Robotics Competitions visit www.usfirst.org.

Gail Broyles is employed by Douglas County Libraries and has lived in Douglas County since 1998.