Competition was something Colleen Karpinsky was used to when she joined Saint Anselm College's debate team. She had played three sports during high school, and rowed crew on the Merrimack River. A high-achieving business major with a certificate in international relations, she found her niche in the mental exercise of arguing against her peers on cases ranging from the U.S. judicial system to international economy.

"I had never debated before college, but there were a number of high level debaters on the team when I started," she says. "I learned how to take a very broad topic, research the heck out of it, and prepare response briefs for use in our oral arguments." She also became comfortable as a public speaker.

These skills prepared her well for a career as an attorney. Winning the national Lincoln-Douglas debate tournament in her senior year led to a merit scholarship at Pennsylvania State University's Dickinson School of Law. While there, she also gained a certificate in dispute resolution and advocacy and served as president of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society.

After graduating in 2004, Karpinsky spent two years as an associate at the Manchester, N.H., law firm, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton Professional Association. She now works as in-house counsel to Irving Oil Corporation at the company's U.S. headquarters located in Portsmouth, N.H.

Along with several former teammates, Colleen returns to Saint Anselm College every year to help new debaters prepare for tournaments.