Dixon, a Sisters High School graduate and now a senior at Chapman University in City of Orange, California, called the experience "by far the most amazing experience that I have had thus far in my life."

Dixon studied at Bond University on Australia's Gold Coast, north of Melbourne. However, she learned as much from travel as she did in the academic setting.

"I made the promise to myself before I left that I would take advantage of every opportunity that came along," she said. "I took a three-day sailing trip where I went scuba diving through the great barrier reef, saw the Italian Opera "La Boheme" in the Sydney Opera House, and even went sky diving in Queensland -- something I never thought I would ever be doing.

"I traveled extensively up and down the east coast of Australia, and was even able to spend a week in Fiji on my way home."

Dixon will graduate from Chapman University in May with a Bachelor of Arts in communications advertising with an emphasis in account management. She holds a 3.82 GPA and is active with her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta.