Two students from Rich Township High School had the opportunity to attend the prestigious Oxford University for two weeks this summer in England.

Anthony Cotton, a senior, studied experimental psychology at the Oxford Royale Academy and Miguel Dixon, a sophomore, participated in a course called Racing Extinction: Climate and Politics & Global Leadership.

Both called it an eye-opening experience, combining academic learning and extracurricular fun.

Anthony said he had always wanted to study psychology.

“A few interesting things we’ve learned were about the neurons and how they interact,” Cotton said. “And in social psychology, how humans interact among each other, and also how self-discipline can navigate a person’s actions.”

Studying overseas was an adventure as well.

“I’ve always wanted to travel to Europe and I knew that Oxford was an amazing university that offered a class that I couldn’t pass up,” he said.

Cotton’s mother, Jasmine Burns, said the experience was great for her son.

“He’s never been too shy about meeting new people so taking part in this opportunity has been great overall,” she said, adding he would be giving a presentation about the trip.

“Traveling outside of the country for the first time — alone at that — to attend a summer camp in Europe, he has shown me how mature he is,” Burns said. “The time difference made it a bit difficult to keep in touch as much as I would have liked but I couldn’t be more excited and proud of him for jumping at this opportunity.”

For Dixon, the experience was all about taking in more knowledge and culture.

“It’s different because there are not as many assignments and learning has a break and lunch in the middle too, so you get time to refocus,” he said. “The teacher also is always explaining something or having us work together, so there is barely any book study compared to our school.

He’s also enjoyed playing cards and punting — piloting a shallow water boat similar to a canoe.

“It was exciting,” Dixon said. “Me and the other passengers were laughing the whole time.”

He said his fellow students in the program came from all over the world, including Turkey, Greece and Estonia.

“I will know a lot more cultures and places now than before,” he said.

Kelly Stadter, Dixon’s math teacher, said she wasn’t surprised he was thriving at Oxford.

“He is definitely very smart and studious, very eager to learn, always has good questions and does his work,” she said.

Stadter said Miguel was on her “radar” as a future leader for their Operation Snowball club, which promotes positive life change. She added she looked forward to watching him grow over the next three years.

“He’s definitely always got that positivity we’re looking for,” Stadter said. “Some of the kids I’ve noticed are starting to look up to him.”

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.