BOWLING GREEN, OHIO — David Cathey, TEXAS TECH 2024 accepted the 2024 International Balfour Award during the closing ceremony of the Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop held July 31 to Aug. 4 at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. 

Given annually to Sigma Chi’s most outstanding graduating senior, the International Balfour Award has been presented since 1930 when Significant Sig Paul Hagemann, WASHINGTON (ST. LOUIS) 1930, was honored following the 1929 to 1930 academic year. 

Cathey graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry and general business and will return to Texas Tech for the university’s medical school program. Drawn to helping others, Cathey’s volunteer and work efforts were concentrated in the medical field. He helped administer COVID-19 tests and vaccinations, taught EMT and EKG courses and worked in various clinics, among others. On campus, Cathey served as the vice president of judicial affairs for the Interfraternity Council at his college and participated in a published research paper to study the biological mechanisms underlying fertility and conception. In his chapter, Cathey served as Pro Consul and risk manager, and attended the Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit.  

Cathey will join the previous year’s honoree, Kellen Brown, DEPAUL 2023, and undergraduate representatives Brooks Buehler, TROY 2025, and Alex Shuron, RIT 2026, to serve on the Fraternity’s Executive Committee. He will be on the committee for two years as an advocate for undergraduates.  

Runners-up to the award are Joseph Gassensmith, BALL STATE 2024; and Colby Hebert, LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 2024. Cathey and the runners-up will receive a scholarship from Sigma Chi for their postgraduate education thanks to support from In Hoc Napa Valley and Significant Sig Brandon Chaney, INDIANA 1993. 

Notable IBA winners include the late Huntsman Cancer Institute founder Jon Huntsman Sr., PENNSYLVANIA 1959, as well as Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop namesake, 64th Grand Consul and former Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Keith Krach, PURDUE 1979. Both men also are recipients of the Significant Sig Award and inductees into the Order of Constantine.