The 30th season of the FIRST Tech Challenge has been announced and Jackson County middle schoolers were at Jackson College on Saturday to brainstorm and strategize.

Just a few years ago, there were predictions that 30 percent of power from renewables was all the grid could easily handle and that anything more would have significant consequences. However, recent events have shown that it is possible to integrate much higher levels of renewable energy without large negative effects. Part of the reason is that the growth has been incremental, typically a few percentage points a year, allowing grid planners to adjust as needed. It’s also because of the emergence of technologies and techniques that help incorporate fluctuating power from renewables into the grid.

Visa Inc. announced that Marianne Mwaniki has joined the company as senior vice president of social impact, with responsibility for the company’s comprehensive strategy in the areas of financial inclusion, financial literacy, corporate social responsibility and corporate giving programs.

There are many factors that make up the Domtar difference. One of them is our EarthChoice Ambassador (ECA) program. ECA is an employee engagement program that began in 2010 to promote sustainable principles throughout the company.

Aflac, the leader in voluntary insurance sales at U.S. worksites, celebrated its 2017 corporate social responsibility (CSR) accomplishments by unveiling its 2017 CSR Report: More Than a Promise. The comprehensive report highlights the actions and initiatives led by the company’s leaders, employees and independent sales agents, bringing to life and going beyond Aflac’s 63-year promise to be there when you need us most.

The lives and welfare of schoolage children have been an area of focus for the philanthropic efforts of Hallmark’s fixture operations facility in Center, Texas. Numerous employees serve as coaches, sponsors and board members for area nonprofits, and in 2017, the facility — which has fewer than 100 employees — donated $3,000 to make an impact across several local organizations.

Sending your children off to university or college and starting the next chapter of their lives is an exciting time for both you and your kids. Whether they’re in first year or a returning student, with all of the academic stress they’ll be facing, the last thing you want is for your child to worry about running out of money during the year.

Kohler Co., a global leader in the design and manufacture of kitchen and bath products, has released its second public sustainability and stewardship report. The report examines Kohler’s efforts to positively impact the environment and global communities. In 2017, Kohler continued to closely align with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) including Goal 6 (Ensure Access to Water and Sanitation for All), Goal 7 (Ensure Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy) and Goal 12 (Ensure Responsible Consumption and Production Patterns).

Gildan was once again a recipient of the Corporate Social Responsibility Seal awarded by the Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility in Honduras (FUNDAHRSE). Gildan, the largest apparel manufacturer in the region, scored 100% in categories such as human rights, labor practices, environment and community engagement, against a manufacturing industry average of 95%.