UTICA — Applications are being accepted through Monday, Oct. 3 for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) program at MVCC, which is starting its 11th year of transforming middle and high school students into real entrepreneurs.

Since the program’s inception, more than 130 students have taken the class and gained exceptional experience in starting their own business, some of which are still running or have evolved. Applications are available online at mvcc.edu/yea.

Classes will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings from Oct. 12 through May 3 and will be held mostly in-person throughout the year at ICAN’s new Family Resource Center at 106 Memorial Parkway in Utica. Classes will not be held during school breaks.

The class is open to students in grades 6-12 and class size is limited. Students from all local school districts are encouraged to apply and educators are invited to nominate students they believe will excel in the program. Full and partial scholarships are available to qualifying students. Students do not need to have a business idea coming into the class.

During the class, students will learn how to create a business; complete market research and develop a business plan; work one-on-one with business mentors and graphic designers; attend field trips to learn from local entrepreneurs; pitch their ideas at a “Shark Tank”-style investor panel presentation to win real start-up funds; take part in a trade show; and graduate from the program with lifelong leadership and business skills.

Each year, one student from the program is chosen to represent the MVCC YEA! class at the Saunders Scholars national competition at RIT and will compete against students from all over the country. Others are awarded prizes ranging from newspaper articles, a one-year membership to the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce and an appearance on the Chamber’s podcast.

Program sponsors include M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund and Berkshire Bank. Partners include WUTR Eyewitness News and the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce.

Parents and educators can call Program Manager Michelle Truett at 315-534-0067, email michelle@484design.com or visit mvcc.edu/yea for more information.