Testimonials

I learned more from those two weeks at FFI then I did from any other experience in my high school career. It also opened up numerous doors for me to compete and hone my skills.

Furthermore, when my flight was canceled Mr. Miller the·director of FFI and the “dorm dad” Willie Warren were extremely helpful. He stayed on the line with an entirely uncooperative airline for about two hours to get me a seat on the first flight out the next day. FFI is truly a great investment.

Sincerely - Matthew Yasuoka

Dear FFI coaching staff,

I want to thank you so much for the phenomenal experience I had at Florida Forensics Institute through the National Coaches Institute. Although it sounds trite, the experience has absolutely changed me as a coach. In each of the labs, every single instructor was both exceptionally knowledgable and very generous with their time. I think the brilliance of the National Coaches Institute is that it allowed me to develop my own schedule observing in the various labs and especially that it afforded me the opportunity to observe the best coaches in the country doing what they do best: coaching some of the best competitors in the country.

Watching Lisa Miller, Adam Jacobi, Jeff Hannan and several other master coaches and former debaters instruct Congressional Debaters significantly improved my ability to coach my own Congressional Debaters. In fact, at the first local tournament of the year our program shut out Congressional Debate, taking the top three places in both houses.  At the State Championships, we were the only team to have all three of our qualifying debaters (the maximum allowed from each team in our state) break to elimination rounds, with two of these breaking to Finals and one earning seventh. Beyond our dominance in Congressional Debate at regular season locals, several of our debaters significantly improved their performance at national circuit tournaments making some semi-final rounds and with one earning three bids to Tournament of Champions, including a fourth place finish at the Laird Lewis Tournament. Prior to my attendance at NCI, only one of my debaters placed well enough to make it to a semi-final round. By the end of the season three of my competitors took first alternate placings to NFL nationals, and two of my competitors have earned placings to NCFL Nationals in Congressional Debate.

In the Extemp lab, Chris McDonald, Josh Rovenger, and Ryan Sasse were highly instructive. Although our young team had never had an Extemp program prior to my attendance at NCI, our Extemp program did exceptionally well for its first year. By the end of the season, our top Extemper won USX at the NFL National Qualifier and will be attending nationals this year. I can honestly say that this would have never happened had I not possessed the knowledge and coaching strategies I gained while at NCI.

The Individual Events labs were also very interesting. The lab leaders Ben Robin, Ganer Newman, Travis Kiger, and Natalie Sintek provided substantive lectures, guidance on pieces, and individual coaching that must be invaluable to students throughout the year. The development I witnessed in the competitors was inspiring and helped me begin a strong IE program at my own school. Several of my competitors were very successful this year in HI, DI, and OO. Having never coached IE competitors before, the lessons I learned while observing the FFI staff made it possible for several of my competitors to place regularly in these categories and win in HI and DI at four tournaments. For our first year with IE competitors, we ended the season well with one of my HI competitors earning the first alternate spot to NFL Nationals.

Finally, Chris Joffrion’s Public Forum lab helped me craft new lessons for my own Public Forum program and think more deeply about the event. Both my A and B teams were able to place at every regular season local tournament they attended this year, taking several first placings, and make break rounds at national tournaments this year after taking multiple wins from teams from nationally dominant programs. By the end of the season, both teams made break rounds at States and qualified for NCFL Nationals.

Not only did I learn a great deal about event-specific coaching, but I was able to gain a better understanding of how to develop a nationally competitive team. One of the things that was most helpful to my professional development was the time spent with Lisa Miller, Howard Miller, Bob Marks, Chris McDonald, Chris Joffrion, Adam Jacobi, and Scott Wunn discussing program development in terms of recruiting, fundraising, and organization. As a direct result of this knowledge from such seasoned professionals, our team implemented new recruiting strategies that took our team from about 16 members to over 40 competitors. I was also able to take away fundraising ideas that have earned enough money to defray a lot of cost for our competitors. With school and personal budgets tight, this fundraising is helping to make feasible our new, rigorous schedule  traveling to six national tournaments this year. Finally, as the sole coach of the team, practice and team organization strategies discovered while at NCI have helped me become better able to manage the tremendous responsibilities of coaching a fairly large team competing locally and nationally.

After my experience, I would not at all hesitate to recommend that coaches of any experience level attend NCI; for competitors, this is an opportunity that cannot be missed. What I learned in the space of two short weeks has proven invaluable to me, my students, and my program overall. Thank you so much for all you have given me.

Sincerely - Nicole Majercak, Beachwood High School (OH) Forensics Director and NCI Alum

I am sorry that I did not get the opportunity to tell each of you goodbye, but I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to attend FFI. You have an outstanding summer program and I will definitely recommend your camp to future competitors. What drew me to the program was the outstanding coaching staff that you assembled and I found each of them to be so supportive in answering questions and willing to put together information for me to bring back to share with my students. Even though the hours were grueling, it was a very productive experience. Good luck to your teams this season and I hope to see you on the circuit.
- Diane Forbes, Southlake Carroll (TX)Forensics Director, NCI Alum

All institutes are useful in a basic way—namely, they provide almost a whole season's worth of experience in one summer. But not all institutes are equally helpful. What makes FFI such a quality institute is not merely the number of speeches students give, but the commitment and quality of the instructors. While speeches are always a beneficial form of practice, their benefit is taken to the next level by a constant stream of quality feedback from impeccably qualified coaches. Such feedback, combined with drills, lectures, and the intellectually charged environment, accounts for the enormous improvements manifested each year by FFI campers.

In the course of my growth as a debater, it is difficult to overstate the importance of this institute. In my two years there, I have seen my analysis and style improve far more than in any of my three years of debate. My greatest regret is that I did not attend FFI after my freshman year, losing an opportunity to improve dramatically so early in my career. I heartily recommend FFI to any debater (and especially any extemper) who wishes to improve in an environment that is at once relaxed and educational.
- Reid Bagwell, Scarsdale HS (TX), FFI Extemp Alum

Thanks again for an amazing time at FFI. I learned so much.
- Ian Kelley, East Chapel Hill HS (TX), FFI Alum

Dear Mr. Marks,

Thank you so much! I know I definitely could not have done it without the coaching you gave me. I would like you to know how much I appreciate your time and faith, and I also wanted to let you know that I've decided to go to FFI this year in Oratory.

Again, thank you so much for your help...I couldn't have done this well without you.

-Sanika Dange, Lake Highland Prep (FL), FFI Oratory Alum (written after winning the prestigious Crestian Tournament)

I am writing this testimonial on behalf of a friend, mentor, and teacher. Bob Marks and I first met when I was a freshman in high school. At the time, I was entering the world of speech and debate, with a penchant for drama. It was Bob, however, who introduced me to the power of the written word. AP English classes and SAT tutorials are wonderful for those of us who would like to spend the remainder of our lives testing. It is practicality and application, however that turn academics into writers, students into thinkers, and thinkers into doers. Bob Marks gave me the resources no other teacher ever provided. He gave me the resources to use the language as a tool that would shape the very foundations of my life.

When Bob Marks enters a room, he immediately draws you into conversation. His wordplay and vast knowledge make for hours of entertainment. It is this appeal that allows him to transcend the normal 'scary professorial stigma' and instead provide an easy entrance into all things composition. Prior to my tutorials with Mr. Marks, the word structure seemed like a term better suited for science projects and history lectures. Consequently, Bob introduced me to the applications of such unfriendly terms as 'thesis,' 'problem,' and 'resolution.' It takes a lot to help a student understand such concepts, but it takes a great deal more to excite a student into using those same concepts. That is the wonder of Bob Marks. He surpasses his duties as an educator by approaching writing with the fun and joy of sports, acting, and other hobbies of extracurricular interest. There is no obligation to write with Bob, only anticipation. By infusing such excitement into the curriculum, the student has no choice but to approach the writing with unabated zeal.

If success is in results, than you need look no further than my ten thousand dollar scholarships after winning back-to-back National Oratory Championships. Without the guidance and instruction of Bob Marks, my dreams and goals would have had countless limitations. Bob, however, illustrated how the English language can be used as greater weapon in this world than any knife, gun, or bomb. It is a weapon that can enlighten, inspire, and move masses into action. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Marks, I finally understand how to use my writing skills in such ways as to improve myself and the world around me. And so, I think it is safe to say that any move other than the immediate enlistment of Bob Marks' services, would be a loss not only to said program, but to the students of tomorrow.
- Sincerely,
Josh Gad, Professional Screen and Stage Actor, University School (FL), FFI Alum