Hill's Pet Nutrition Expands Partnership through P.E.T. Internship Program

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Expands Partnership with Northeastern High School through P.E.T. Academy Internship Program
Two-year internship program in partnership with Purdue’s IN-MaC program is offered to Northeastern and Union City High School students

RICHMOND, Ind. (January 21, 2025) – Hill’s Pet Nutrition is excited to provide an update on P.E.T. Academy (Personal Excellence Training), an innovative internship program launched in partnership with Northeastern High School in Wayne County, Indiana. The program is designed to educate and train high school students, equipping them with the skills needed for productive and rewarding careers in the manufacturing industry.

P.E.T. Academy is a two-year program combining coursework and hands-on experience at Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s Richmond, Ind., manufacturing facility. Since its launch in August 2024, the program has provided students with unparalleled opportunities to explore and learn about the manufacturing industry through firsthand experience.

The second year of the program will kick off in August 2025, with the hope of expanding to 24 students. As part of the curriculum, participants will gain real- world manufacturing experience and have the option to earn college credits through Ivy Tech Community College, providing a strong foundation for future career success.

“We are proud of the strides we’ve made with P.E.T. Academy and the opportunity it offers to local students,” said Mark Hodge, Richmond Plant Manager and Director of Manufacturing for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “This program is not just about education but also about creating a pathway to a fulfilling career in manufacturing while addressing the workforce needs of the future.”

Leaders at Northeastern High School share Hill’s enthusiasm for the program and its potential impact on the community. “At Northeastern, we believe that our students need to ‘belong, grow, and contribute.’ We are hopeful that many of our Knights will remain in Wayne County to do those things beyond graduation and our partnership with Hills helps make that a very high likelihood by tapping them into a high-wage career here in the county.”

The P.E.T. Academy has already garnered interest among students and parents in the community, with applications for the next cohort opening during the January class enrollment period.

​ For more information about P.E.T. Academy, contact Dr. Matthew Hicks at Northeastern High at 765-847-2821