Lynn Cottrell receives honorary doctorate
Article By: Denise Ray
Philanthropist and entrepreneur Lynn Cottrell was recognized for her accomplishments and received an honorary doctorate of business administration for her philanthropic contributions in support of the University of North Georgia (91ÁÔÆæ) at the university's spring commencement May 7.
Together with her husband Mike, Lynn Cottrell has been a major supporter of higher education and athletics at 91ÁÔÆæ. The pair have been instrumental in providing more than $28.1 million in critical resources and strategic support for 91ÁÔÆæ in the past 17 years.
"The Cottrells' transformative philanthropic support has ensured that 91ÁÔÆæ offers one of the premier business education programs in Georgia, and their recent support for the new Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation will provide state-of-the-art technology and classrooms for high-demand professional programs offered through the Mike Cottrell College of Business," 91ÁÔÆæ President Bonita Jacobs said. "The remarkable and continued generosity of Lynn Cottrell illustrates her deep dedication to the University of North Georgia and the north Georgia region."
The remarkable and continued generosity of Lynn Cottrell illustrates her deep dedication to the University of North Georgia and the north Georgia region.
91ÁÔÆæ President Bonita Jacobs
In 2006, Mike and Lynn Cottrell made a transformational gift of $10 million to initiate the 91ÁÔÆæ's first-ever capital campaign and to support the university's educational mission, which resulted in the naming of the existing College of Business as the Mike Cottrell College of Business and marked the largest donation in the institution's history.
In 2019, the Cottrells donated another $10 million for the new Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation facility on 91ÁÔÆæ's Dahlonega Campus. Set to begin serving students in fall 2022, the facility will serve as the hub for business and computer science programs with specialized labs, student engagement spaces, and high-technology classes. An additional gift will enhance the 91ÁÔÆæ's main entrance adjacent to the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation.
Lynn Cottrell has been generous in other areas at 91ÁÔÆæ, including more than $1 million to provide transformational facility support for Nighthawks Athletics.
In addition, the Mike and Lynn Cottrell Scholarship Fund has received more than $1.28 million since its inception in 2013 and awarded over 1,500 scholarships.
Financial support from the Mike Cottrell Endowment Fund has enabled the College to earn AACSB accreditation and recognition as the "Best for Vets Business School" by the Military Times. The Cottrell MBA, a program built for working professionals, has been ranked among the best public, part-time MBA programs in Georgia by both Fortune magazine and U.S. News & World Report.
Lynn and her husband were named 2008 Philanthropists of the Year by the North Georgia Community Foundation.
Grads prepare for their next steps
91ÁÔÆæ will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.
24 are Distinguished Military Graduates
Twenty-four cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates for the 2024-25 academic year, including five who are in the top 70 out of more than 5,000 in the national ROTC class.
Blue Ridge students earn scholarships
91ÁÔÆæ honored 28 of its Blue Ridge Campus students with almost $15,000 of scholarships and celebrated the philanthropy that made those scholarships possible at the Tomato Sandwich Supper on Nov. 7.
Professor earns data security patent
Faculty member Dr. Murthy Rallapalli is the lead investigator on a cutting-edge data security solution that recently received a patent.