The ISU solar car team, Team PrISUm, needs a helping hand and a little creativity from the ISU community to find a name for its next car.

“We are looking for a name that not only represents the reputation of the team, but also is a fitting name for a solar car,” said Ross Fischer, assistant director for Team PrISUm.

Team PrISUm began its solar car project in 1990. The first two cars were named after the team, PrISUm and PrISUm II, according to the team’s Web site, www.prisum.iastate.edu. In 1995, the team decided to keep PrISUm as the team name and to give each year’s car its own unique title. The team’s third car, CYnergy, was the first to bear an original name. Other names include Phoenix, ExCYtor, and 2001’s PrISUm Odyssey, according to the Web site.

Each team has its own goal – and this year’s team goal is to win, said Valerie Sandefur, program director for Team PrISUm.

“I think that the name will have an air of competitiveness in it,” said Sandefur, sophomore in mechanical engineering.

The contest entries will be reviewed by members of the cabinet, which consists of team leaders and advisers, said Fischer, senior in computer engineering.

“We will most likely narrow down the selection so that the entire team can vote on it as a whole,” he said.

Sandefur encouraged anyone who would like to become part of the solar car project to get involved.

“There are so many projects and aspects to the solar car team that anyone motivated can find something interesting to do,” she said.

Last year’s car, the PrISUm Odyssey, placed 16th out of 30 entries in the American Solar Car Challenge. The 2,250 mile race lasted 10 days, beginning in Chicago and ending in Claremont, Calif.

A contest form is posted on the team’s Web site. Entries are due by Jan. 1, and the winning name will be announced by Feb. 1. The winner will receive a Team PrISUm T-shirt and a commemorative plaque.