Nahreen Cheam '27, a member of the women's tennis team at University of the Pacific, will spend 10 days this summer studying one of the 20th century's most influential poets in his home country.
 
Cheam, an English and writing professions major, will travel to Sligo, Ireland, from July 22–31 to attend the Yeats International Summer School, a program dedicated to exploring the life and works of Irish poet William Butler Yeats. The 1923 Nobel Prize winner in literature has influenced generations of writers, including American author Ray Bradbury.
 
Cheam's trip is funded through the Seamus Heaney Fellowship for International Study—a full-ride scholarship awarded to two Pacific English majors or minors each year. To qualify, Cheam submitted a statement of interest along with a creative writing sample or analytical essay.
 
"I was drawn to this opportunity because it brings together two things I love most: poetry and travel," Cheam said. "Winning the Seamus Heaney Award and attending the Yeats International Summer School is especially meaningful because I've never been out of the country, and Ireland is a place I've always dreamed of visiting."
 
The Heaney Fellowship was established by Stockton accountant Ned Leiba and his partner Carol Sims. The program covers airfare, lodging, tuition and field trips around Sligo and provides a $500 stipend.
 
"Studying Yeats' work in the landscape that shaped his imagination is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said. "I'm excited to immerse myself in Ireland's literary history and creative community. It's an honor to represent Pacific on an international stage while pursuing something I'm truly passionate about."
 
Women's tennis Head Coach Mary Beth Gunn praised Cheam's achievement, emphasizing her dedication on and off the court.
 
"I'm incredibly proud of Nahreen for earning this award," Gunn said. "Her dedication to excellence extends far beyond tennis, and this recognition reflects the discipline, focus and work ethic she brings to everything she does. She will be a fantastic representative for University of the Pacific while studying abroad."
 
The 2026 women's tennis season is underway with 13 home matches at the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center. See the full women's tennis schedule.