East Meadow, NY Michelle Schmitt, resident of Jericho and a partner in the real estate group at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, was honored with the ATHENA Young Professional Award, on January 7 at a breakfast ceremony at Oheka Castle. The ATHENA Young Professional Award was launched in 2013 by KPMG LLP with the support of a number of Long island based corporations and enterprises. The recipient must be a young woman who demonstrates excellence and creativity in her profession; provides valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in the community; and clearly serves as a role model for young women both personally and professionally. Before joining the firm, Schmitt interned for the Honorable E. Thomas Boyle, Magistrate Judge, United States District Court, EDNY. During college she served as the Deputy New York Finance Director for “Gephardt for President” from April 2003 until January 2004. Ms. Schmitt also had the opportunity to interview former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for the August 2004 issue of CosmoGirl! Magazine. Active in her community, Schmitt was formerly a mentor in the Lawyers Involved in Kids’ Education (LIKE) Program, which is affiliated with the Long Island Mentoring Partnership, and was chosen to speak at their 14th Annual Benefit. She has served as Captain of the Action Long Island/American Heart Association Long Island Corporate Wellness Challenge for the firm, as well as a member of the Marcum Corporate Workplace Challenge Committee. She is currently serving as the Event Chair of the 2016 American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women annual luncheon and is President of her homeowners association’s board of directors. Ms. Schmitt is also a member of LIREG, the Huntington Chamber of Commerce’s Women-in-Business Committee and Long Island University’s Rising Professionals Group. Schmitt earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from The George Washington University in 2004. In 2007, she graduated cum laude from Touro College Jacob D. Fuschberg Law Center, earning three CALI Awards for Academic Excellence, the National Association Women Lawyers Award, and the ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in Labor and Employment Law. Additionally, she was recognized for her exemplary contributions to student life, having served as president of the Women’s Bar Association, Vice President of the Public Interest Law Organization of Touro, Election Chair of the Student Bar Association, and Competition Editor of Touro’s Moot Court Board. Ms. Schmitt continues to contribute to her alma mater as a member of Touro Law Center’s Alumni Council and Mentor Program, as well as on the Dean’s Advisory Board. She was featured as the “Alum of the Month” in September 2009. In April 2012, she was awarded a Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award by Touro and in January 2013 she was presented with Touro’s Emerging Leader Award. In May 2012, Ms. Schmitt was named one of the top 30 young professionals under 30 by the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. The American Heart Association honored her with an Outstanding Service Award in 2014 and the Development Achievement Award in 2015. Schmitt has also been named to the 2016 List of Long Island Business News’ 40 Under 40.