Eta Iota's Sterling Stein Named 2026 International Balfour Award Finalist
We have some exceptional news to share, putting Eta Iota on the national stage of Sigma Chi in a way it never has been before.
For the first time in Eta Iota history, a brother from our chapter has been named a finalist for Sigma Chi's most prestigious undergraduate honor.
Brother Sterling Stein ('25) has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2026 International Balfour Award — presented annually to the person believed to be the Fraternity's most outstanding graduating senior based on academic achievement, campus and community involvement, and Sigma Chi leadership. Sterling earned the distinction alongside brothers from the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Cincinnati, after first winning the award at both the chapter and province levels.
Sterling recently graduated summa cum laude from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, earning recognition as a Distinguished Military Graduate and finishing among the top Army ROTC cadets in the nation. At ERAU he served as Cadet Battalion Commander, competed in the prestigious Sandhurst International Military Skills Competition, and earned selection for the U.S. Army's highly competitive Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) program. Professionally, he completed internships with Northrop Grumman in support of classified programs, earning both Secret and Top Secret security clearances.
Within Eta Iota, Sterling served as Consul, Pro Consul, Magister, and Scholarship Chairman, mentoring new members and strengthening chapter operations throughout his tenure. His commitment to Eta Iota was recognized twice by our own Educational Foundation — as the 2022 recipient of the Eta Iota Military Appreciation Scholarship and the 2024 recipient of the Ryan Donley Memorial Scholarship. His path from scholarship recipient to IBA finalist is a testament to what those awards are meant to inspire.
Sterling and the other finalists will be interviewed by a national selection committee at the 2026 Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. The winner will be announced on August 1, 2026 and will serve on Sigma Chi's Executive Committee for two years as an advocate for undergraduates, in addition to receiving a postgraduate scholarship.
You represent Eta Iota well, Brother Stein. In hoc signo vinces.