Lynn Cottrell receives honorary doctorate
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 (ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½) 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 ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. The pair have been instrumental in providing more than $28.1 million in critical resources and strategic support for ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ in the past 17 years.
"The Cottrells' transformative philanthropic support has ensured that ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ 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," ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ 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.
ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ President Bonita Jacobs
In 2006, Mike and Lynn Cottrell made a transformational gift of $10 million to initiate the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'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 ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'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 ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'s main entrance adjacent to the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation.
Lynn Cottrell has been generous in other areas at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, 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.
Students offer free tax preparation
Students pursuing bachelor's and master's accounting degrees at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ are providing free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program sponsored by the IRS.
Sales student places in top 20 of event
ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ student Billy Brown placed in the top 20 out of 360 competitors in the Speed Selling Finals at the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition held Nov. 14-15 at Bryant University.
Course offers hands-on marketing experience
Students in a digital marketing class in the fall at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ created social media plans for a small business and a nonprofit organization.
Investment club wins portfolio competition
Four ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ students teamed up to earn first place in the Portfolio Building Competition at the Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium Conference in the fall.