Mark Banks is a national champion performer. Mark began his forensics career in high school where he received numerous accolades including a TFA State Championship in HI and greatest achievement being his National Championship in Humorous Interpretation at the NFL National Tournament in 1997. Mark’s passion for forensics guided him to the University of Texas at Austin where he had a tremendously prosperous college career. His impressive college accomplishments include reaching national final rounds in Programmed Oral Interpretation (including an AFA National Championship in the event), final rounds in Dramatic Interpretation and After Dinner Speaking, as well as two Top 20 Speaker honors. While Mark has a wonderful competitive background, he has also proven to be a very successful and effective coach. His knowledge of comic timing, realistic character development, and imaginative approach to blocking and environment work have made Jeff one of the most popular and sought after high school speech camp coaches. Having taught at the University of Texas National Institute in Forensics, George Mason Institute in Forensics a Mark has coached students to successful showings at the State and National level in mostly all Interpretation events including Prose, HI, DI, and Duo. His students have advanced to final rounds at the NFL and NCFL national tournaments and coached national runners up in Humorous Interpretation. Mark Banks is a proud alumnus of the University of Texas Speech Team.
Mark: “I have always believed that a champion hides within all of us. Success can be achieved by all. It begins by replacing the “first at all cost” mentality and replacing it with an understanding that it’s about the message that we communicate and the hearts we touch. Through hard work, dedication, and sacrifice we can reach the Champion inside us all and achieve the success that is deserved. As a strong believer in competition , in a sea of competitors it is important to remember our purpose. The reason we come together for this event. Through a simple model teaching and explaining the purpose behind words we will change the way your selection is viewed. Together we will ensure that your message hits home so that each round ends with you feeling like a Champion.”