NGCSU | University Relations - NGCSU In The News

DAHLONEGA – Mike Cottrell, owner of Gainesville-based Cottrell Inc., received an honorary doctorate degree in business administration from North Georgia College & State University on May 3.

The Mike Cottrell School of Business, named in honor of the university’s largest benefactor, held its commencement ceremony on Saturday in Dahlonega. The 55-year-old Cottrell was conferred the honorary doctorate during the ceremony, where 90 business students also received their degrees in front of an audience of more than 500. Former U.S. Sen. and Georgia Gov. Zell Miller were in attendance, with U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson delivering the commencement address.

The honorary degree was conferred in recognition of the entrepreneur’s significant contributions to the university and North Georgia region. Cottrell made the first part of a $10 million gift to the North Georgia business school in 2006. The money will be used to develop a regional economic development center at NGCSU and support curricular programming, including the new MBA degree program starting in Forsyth County in August.

Cottrell, a Dahlonega resident, is chairman of the Lumpkin County Development Authority, a member of the Lumpkin County Water & Sewerage Authority, a trustee of the NGCSU Foundation and vice-chair of the university’s Business Advisory Council. He recently was appointed as an at-large member to the board of directors of the Georgia Department of Economic Development by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

The honorary doctorate bestowed upon Cottrell is only the fourth honorary degree title to be awarded by the institution. Receiving honorary degrees in the past were Pulitzer-Prize winning Atlanta Journal Constitution editor Gene Patterson, business leader and North Georgia alumnus Olin King and career Democrat Speaker of the House for the Georgia Legislature Thomas Murphy, also an alumnus.

From www.accessnorthgeorgia.com/detail.php?n=209771&c=10

North Georgia awards honorary doctorate to regional business leader