After Brother Cort Collins of Gamma Beta Chapter at Fort Hays State University was in a car accident, leaving him in a coma, brothers from the Gamma Beta Chapter helped out with a benefit for him and his family.
The Cort Collins Benefit, hosted by his family, was held January 25, 2026. The event consisted of a silent auction, a live auction, and raffles. Family, friends, community members, local businesses, Fort Hays State’s Student Affairs Office and Student Engagement Office, and more donated items to be auctioned off at the benefit.
Brother Kylon Jurgens, Noble Ruler of Gamma Beta Chapter, said the chapter showed up to the benefit and offered to do whatever they needed them to do. The chapter helped with setting up, running the event and tearing down. Family members Troy Wright and Shea Wright were the two main event planners.
“We all know Jennifer, Court's mom, and we were out there periodically over break,” Kylon said. “I was in Wichita the entire break, but we all know her, and we knew the benefit was coming up. We [the chapter] were like, ‘Well, how can we help?’”
Brother Jurgens said nearly 150 people participated in the benefit, raising somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000 for the Collins family.
He is extremely helpful and made an impact on a lot of people's lives throughout [Fort] Hayes, and out west and everywhere in between, it seems.
Brother Jurgens describes Brother Collins as very involved and committed to AGR’s brotherhood.
“He is extremely helpful and made an impact on a lot of people's lives throughout [Fort] Hayes, and out west and everywhere in between, it seems,” Brother Jurgens said.
Brother Collins, along with Brother Parker Opat, were the brothers who introduced Brother Jurgens to the rest of the chapter, which led him to Gamma Beta Chapter.
The chapter will host their annual Butts & Nuts event March 28, at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall. A portion of proceeds collected will also go to the Collins family.
Beyond these fundraisers, several local businesses have also shown support for Brother Collins and his family during this difficult time. Brother Jurgens said some of the brothers were on their way to Breath Coffee in Hays, Kansas, February 12, to take part in an event supporting the Collins family, with all proceeds going directly to them.
As of February 9, Brother Collins has been moved to a different wing of the hospital, is no longer on a ventilator and will hopefully be moved to a rehabilitation facility.
