She graduated from
Denton High School in 1970 and was the second
Miss America from that high school as
Phyllis George was crowned Miss America before her in 1971. She later attended
North Texas State University and earned her bachelor of science in elementary education and her master's degree in guidance counseling. Cothran later used the scholarship money she earned from her Miss America win towards her Ph.D. in early childhood education and family counseling. ==Life and career==