Betsy Bartling of Jackson, Mississippi, received the 1997 Gray Award, given for the outstanding research paper on Southern topics submitted the previous academic year at the University. Bartling's paper was titled "Radiant and Unappeased" and was a project in Robert Brinkmeyer's seminar on Eudora Welty. Bartling received, as her prize, a check for $200.

The Gray Award was established by Colonel and Mrs. Homer Gray Jr. of Oxford. Students selected for the award must produce a paper that displays the ability to collect evidence about the Southern experience and to evaluate that evidence and reach a documented conclusion.

The Coterie Award for 1997 was presented to James Haygood of Memphis, Tennesssee, for his research paper "Roger Titus, Shaman of the Whitefeather: A Modern Man Implementing Ancient Beliefs to Aid the Marginal." Haygood's paper was written for the Southern Folklore class taught by Bill Ferris.

This award, which carries a $200 prize, was established to encourage student scholarhship and to support research on Southern Culture. The Coterie Club of Oxford sponsors the award.