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. – 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. This partnership was established in partnership with IN-MaC through Purdue University’s Alisa Deck.
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 School at 765-847-2821.
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About Hill’s Pet Nutrition: Founded more than 75 years ago, Hill’s Pet Nutrition has been committed to providing pets with the best nutrition through extensive research and a scientific understanding of their specific needs. Their team of 220+ veterinarians, PhD nutritionists, and food scientists constantly strive to develop innovative solutions for pet health. Hill’s offers a full line of products, including their Prescription Diet therapeutic nutrition and Science Diet wellness products, which are available at veterinary clinics and pet specialty retailers worldwide. For more information about their products and nutritional philosophy, please visit HillsPet.com.
About IN-MaC: IN-MaC provides programs and services to enhance the talents and capabilities of Indiana’s present and future workforce by facilitating connections between educators and industry to catalyze the formation of near term and long-term skills in a highly accessible manner across Indiana. IN-MaC supports a variety of STEM-type, skilled trades, degree (associates and undergraduate), and certificate programs. IN-MaC leverages its resources, networks and partnerships with industry, local communities, educators and interested stakeholders to provide a variety of formal courses and informal activities that embolden pathways to meet present and future workforce talent needs.
Submitted by Ashley Hungate