TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology athletic department earned the 2007-08 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup for its all-around athletic performance during the academic year.

The Commissioner's Cup is awarded to the institution accumulating the most standings points in the HCAC's 19 league championship events.  Rose-Hulman won the award with 103 points, followed by Anderson (93.5) and Franklin (91.5).

In addition, Rose-Hulman tied with Franklin College in the HCAC Men's All-Sports Trophy standings.  Both schools scored 53.5 points in the 10 men's sports.

Manchester College claimed the Women's All-Sports Trophy by just 1.5 points over Rose-Hulman's effort.  The Engineers tallied 49.5 points in nine women's sports.

During the 2007-08 academic year, Rose-Hulman claimed team championships in women's soccer, softball, men's swimming and men's track and field.  The Engineers placed second in women's golf, women's swimming and men's soccer, with third-place finishes recorded in men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, football, wrestling and baseball.

"The Commissioner's Cup is a huge credit to our coaching staff, student-athletes and everyone connected with Rose-Hulman athletics.  I can't say enough about the commitment and energy that our teams spent this year.  This was a true team effort, with so many sports contributing to the award in a big way," said Rose-Hulman athletic director Jeff Jenkins.

This marks Rose-Hulman's first Commissioner's Cup and the first athletic department award honoring the efforts of the combined men's and women's teams.  The Engineers previously won the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's All-Sports Trophy in 1996.