To acknowledge, empower, support and enrich is the theme of this year’s Women’s Conference presented by Ohio University Southern.

The conference is May 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Ohio University Southern Proctorville Center.

“We have an opportunity for women to come together and work together, and support each other,” said Miki Crawford, associate professor, communication studies and faculty coordinator at OUS. “We needed an event for women to go to and just celebrate being women.”

Susan Nicholas, WSAZ-TV anchor, is the guest speaker.

Crawford acknowledged the impact the conference could have on women.

“It (conference) can make women aware of how they can make their lives better and more enjoyable,” Crawford said.

The conference will be broken up into different sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to choose which sessions would benefit them the most.

“It’s going to reach an audience from high school age to retirees,” Crawford said. “There will be something for everyone.”

Sessions include Self-defense, Leadership, Healthy Cooking, Etiquette, Sandwich Generation, Social Networking, Self-Esteem, Yoga, Japanese War Brides, Finances and Smart Consumer Shopping.

The conference is $30, which includes a catered lunch or $20 for students.

RSVP required by May 8. Online registration is available at www.southern.ohiou.edu/proctorville/womens-conference/ or register by calling 740-886-7655. To receive the student’s discount, students must call to register.

Ohio River Bank is a primary sponsor of the event. It is sponsoring two high school senior female students and one high school counselor from each of the schools in Lawrence County giving the selected individuals an opportunity to attend the women’s conference. Other sponsors include St. Mary’s Medical Center, Simply Whisk, Steel of West Virginia Inc., Prime Copy Plus, Marathon Petroleum Corp., Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and The Tribune.