The Fraternity has named the following finalists for the 2021 International Balfour Award (IBA): Jared Kuykendall, OKLAHOMA STATE 2021; Robert LeGrande, LOUISIANA STATE 2021; and Maximilian Troyke, HILLSDALE 2021. The honor is presented annually to the person who is believed to be the Fraternity’s most outstanding senior based upon his success in academics and campus, community and Sigma Chi involvement.
The finalists will be interviewed by a selection committee during the 2021 Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and the winner will be announced at the conclusion of the event on July 30.
Kuykendall graduated from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with a degree in business administration. At Oklahoma State, Kuykendall was active in several organizations, such as Phi Kappa Phi, a National Honor Society recognizing the top 7.5 percent of students at universities; the National Society of Leadership and Success; Order of Omega, an honor society recognizing fraternity men and women who have attained a high standard of leadership in interfraternity activities; the Spears School of Business as a scholar leader and ambassador; and the President’s Leadership Council. He served his Fraternity chapter as Consul, Magister, recruitment chairman and risk manager. At the international level, he served on subcommittees of the Fraternity’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
LeGrande graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a degree in economics. On campus, he was involved in student government as a senator and then director of governmental relations; served as director for the Greek Leadership Institute; and was a Rhodes Scholarship nominee. Outside of campus, LeGrande interned in Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office; worked with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as a Governor’s Fellow on policy issues relating department funding for conservation efforts; and worked as a page and then head page in the Louisiana House of Representatives. LeGrande was key in reestablishing the Gamma Iota chapter and served as its first Consul and later annotator and Kustos.
Troyke graduated from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, with a degree in biochemistry. He will be attending Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Troyke was involved in several organizations on and off campus, including working as a summer camp counselor and cabin leader for special needs children; serving as a teaching assistant for organic chemistry and as a Spanish tutor; and working as a certified nursing assistant in a senior living facility during COVID-19. He was selected as a member of the President’s Ball court in recognition of his campus contributions; elected senior class vice president; chosen as the Spanish department’s Outstanding Student; and is a member of three academic honoraries. In his chapter, Troyke was social chairman, scholarship chairman, philanthropy chairman, annotator and Consul.
Before being named IBA finalists, Kuykendall, LeGrande and Troyke were province and chapter Balfour Award winners.
The 2021 IBA winner will join the previous year’s honoree and two undergraduate representatives to serve on the Fraternity’s Executive Committee. The IBA winner will serve on the committee for two years as an advocate for undergraduates.
The winner and runners up also 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.
