Women will find fellowship and sources of inspiration Saturday, April 14, at the Bluffton University Women’s Council “Women Enriching Women” conference.
 
The conference will begin at 9 a.m. with check-in starting at 8:30 a.m. Events will conclude by 3 p.m. Registration is available online at http://tickets.bluffton.edu. Cost is $45 per person with lunch included in the cost.

A full schedule of events can be found at www.bluffton.edu/blufftonalumni/events/women/. For more information, contact Julia Szabo, director of alumni engagement, at [email protected] or at 419-358-3245.
 
The conference, “Life choices: Opening doors to unlock your future,” will celebrate the resiliency of women and will feature three speakers who have overcome enormous life challenges through the decisions they have made.
 
Erin Hardesty will share the story of finding her adoptive mother. Born in Norfolk, Va., and at just three days old brought to Lima, Ohio, where she still resides, Hardesty weaves an unbelievable account of her search.

What she found was that choices made by others centuries ago have defined her life and continue to define her journey today. Hardesty has been sharing her experiences with audiences since 1992.  She is active in the community and has worked in the financial services industry for 35 years.
 
Tamara Al-Sammarraie was born in Baghdad, Iraq. Fearing for their lives, her family fled Iraq and lived in a Syrian refugee camp for several years. Her father was captured and imprisoned while her mother and brothers immigrated to Sweden.

Al-Sammarraie came to the United States after winning a competitive placement test for a U.S. college education. She graduated from Bluffton University in 2014 with a degree in early childhood education and has found the keys to a happy life.
 
Pastor Robin Ramos never imagined the path her marriage to another pastor would take. Ramos will share how a shocking betrayal began a dark time in her life that almost destroyed her faith in God. However, Ramos, who is currently pastoring at Zion Lutheran Church in Lafayette, Ohio, will discuss how she found healing and the strength to lead her congregation.