Every two years, the PrISUm Solar Car Team competes in the American Solar Car Challenge, one of the biggest solar car races in North America, . This year the race is from Tulsa, Okla., to Chicago, and the PrISUm team has used what it has learned building previous cars in hopes of beating out the powerhouses of the past such as the University of Michigan and University of Minnesota.

This year’s car is called Anthelion, and it is the 10th car the PrISUm team has made. Most cars take two years, the time allotted between races.

In 2008, the PrISUm team finished eighth out of the 16 teams competing, and members look forward to improving on that position.

“First and foremost, reliability is the top priority,” said Patrick Sanderson, program director and senior in mechanical engineering, of the changes in the design from the last model. Some of the major differences include three wheels instead of four and making the car entirely out of carbon fiber, the same material used in making fighter jets.

The car costs approximately $250,000 to build, and the team has many monetary supporters. One of the sponsors, Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, is also a major recruiter of ISU engineering students.

“[The solar car competition is] absolutely a great way to get an internship,” said Tonya Burke, process engineer for Honeywell and ISU alumna.

Participation in the PrISUm team helps students gain experience that will benefit them after graduation.

“We emphasize not only what you can do for us, but what we can do for you,” said Sanderson of the employment opportunities that are possible with the PrISUm team.

If a student becomes a director in an area such as mechanical design, employment after graduation is almost guaranteed. Students have to work their way up and gain experience before they can become a director.

New members start out in the community outreach portion of the car, usually going to local schools and talking about the solar car program and giving presentations.

“We stress leadership, public speaking and practical engineering knowledge,” Sanderson said.

The competition itself is June 12-27, and the faster cars in the race go about 60-65 mph.

This year there are 18 teams competing along with Iowa State, including two from Canada, two from Germany and one from Taiwan.

There are about 20 people that help build the car, and some aspect of the process goes on almost every day. Even with the stresses of putting the final pieces together before June, the team still finds time to have fun.

“It’s like driving a giant go-kart,” said Erin Kelly, senior in chemical engineering.