Outstanding Recent Graduate Award

2025 Award Recipients 

Lauren Choi, Engr ’20
Lauren Choi is the founder and CEO the New Norm, a sustainable fabrics and yarn company. The idea for the company began through Lauren’s senior design project in 2020, which had the goal of creating a machine capable of recycling plastic into a filament for fabric. This idea spun into founding the New Norm. After graduation, Lauren continued this important work, pushing the company to new levels of succes—turning party cups and ocean plastics in recycled fabrics. Based in Los Angeles, the company is now an online clothing retailer. Their featured products include sweaters, scarfs, beanies and they are working on a table cloth line. The company is truly dedicated to pushing the boundaries of sustainability. Lauren shared, “My hope is that The New Norm can inspire real consumer change. Any company that uses The New Norm fabric will be able to claim that they have a truly sustainable and transparent supply chain. From the beginning, having a reliable, sustainable supply chain has been a priority and has been built into the business model. It’s a key component of our product design. Ultimately, I hope The New Norm plays a role in bringing the fashion and recycling industries together and helps to move our world towards a more circular economy. It’s possible: now it’s up to us to make tangible, impacting changes.” The company has been featured in Vogue’s Business Founders Forum, with Lauren serving as a panelist at the 2023 event. They have formed partnerships with Reynolds Consumer Products (makers of the Hefty Party Cup) and have been awarded the Forge Impact Development Grant. Lauren was also named a 2024 Tory Burch Foundation Entrepreneur. As the Johns Hopkins website shares: Johns Hopkins University is proud to make ambitious commitments to reduce our environmental impact. Lauren’s work through The New Norm, exemplifies this ideal.

Molly Claire Cook, Nurs ’18, BSPH ’18
Molly Cook, MSN, MPH, RN, exemplifies the ideal candidate for the Outstanding Recent Graduate Award through her extraordinary achievements as a health care professional, grassroots organizer, and now a trailblazing state legislator. Molly has consistently leveraged her education to serve her community in innovative and impactful ways. As an emergency room nurse, Molly has dedicated herself to providing compassionate care to patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. Her work in the ER exposed her to the broader social determinants of health, which inspired her to pursue public health advocacy and grassroots organizing. Molly’s leadership was instrumental in passing a citizen-driven amendment to the Houston City Charter, and she was recognized by the Houston Chronicle as one of the city’s transportation leaders for her efforts to challenge the expansion of Interstate 45—an initiative aimed at protecting communities from displacement and environmental harm. Molly’s commitment to public service reached new heights when she transitioned into politics. She recently became the first openly bisexual member of the Texas Senate, representing Senate District 15, a position previously held by a single individual for four decades. Her victory in a highly competitive special election was a testament to her grassroots organizing skills and ability to connect with constituents. Throughout her campaign, Molly championed progressive policies, including Medicaid expansion, environmental justice, gun safety, and LGBTQ+ rights. Molly’s leadership extends beyond her professional achievements. She has inspired countless individuals through her advocacy for health equity, reproductive rights, and community-driven solutions. Her ability to bridge her experiences as a nurse and public health expert with her role as a legislator exemplifies the impact Johns Hopkins alumni can have on their communities and beyond. In every endeavor, Molly embodies the values of compassion, resilience, and leadership that define the spirit of Johns Hopkins.

Emily Maheras, Engr ’20,’23
Emily Maheras is a NASA Thermal Engineer at VERTEX Aerospace LLC. Most recently, Emily was awarded the Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal at NASA. This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to both government and non-government individuals for exceptional engineering contributions toward achievement of the NASA mission. This award is given for individual efforts for applications of engineering principles or methods that have resulted in a contribution of fundamental importance in this field or have a significantly enhanced understanding of this field or have significantly advanced  the state of the practice as demonstrated by an application to aerospace systems. Emily was awarded this metal for outstanding engineering efforts on the Integrated LCRD Low Earth User Modern and Amplifier Terminal payload’s active and passive cooling design trades and analysis. Emily is one of the youngest recipients of this prestigious award. Following graduation, Emily worked as a NASA Thermal Engineer for Lentech, Inc at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center until she transitioned to her current role at VERTEX Aerospace LLC in 2022. She has moderated panels with prestigious alumni about the James Webb Telescope and is a Johns Hopkins volunteer.

Eric Morrissette, SAIS ’17
Eric Morrissette is the former Acting Under Secretary of Commerce, where he led the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in its service of the nation’s nearly 10 million minority business enterprises. His appointment on January 12, 2024, followed President Biden’s 2021 signing of the Minority Business Development Act, which expanded and made permanent MBDA as the United States’ newest federal agency after more than 52 years in existence. Prior to this, Mr. Morrissette served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce, acting as the principal advisor and part of the Department’s leadership team supporting priorities on minority entrepreneurship, place-based economic development, and national security. Earlier, as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, he successfully worked to pass the Minority Business Development Act of 2021, in addition to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act. Before joining the Department of Commerce, Mr. Morrissette held various impactful posts in the Federal Government. These include Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, managing the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy, and service in both analysis and operations at the CIA. He also worked in the Office of Board Members for the U.S. Federal Reserve and as a legislative aide under U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. In all these roles, Mr. Morrissette consistently drove equity, transparency, and positive change on behalf of the country. A Global Public Policy Fellow and Bryce Harlow Fellow at Johns Hopkins’ SAIS, Mr. Morrissette has held several distinguished appointments within the U.S. Government and maintains a commitment to helping people navigate their own careers in service.

Nam Nguyen, Ed ’23
Nam Nguyen is a dynamic leader whose work bridges education, technology, and global impact. He currently serves as a Consumer Card Analyst in Mobility and Convenience Americas at BP in Chicago, Illinois, where he manages the nationwide gift card program across 7,000+ gas stations and supports a $3 billion credit card portfolio—driving strategic growth and customer engagement for the company. In 2023, the UK-based Energy Intelligence named Nguyen one of only eight Energy Leaders for Tomorrow worldwide, recognizing his emerging influence in shaping the future of the energy industry. A first-generation college graduate and immigrant, Nguyen’s journey is defined by resilience, service, and innovation. He is the founder of The Bach’s Wish Fund, a nonprofit empowering underserved Vietnamese students through scholarships and mentorship. His unwavering commitment to public good has earned him some of the world’s most prestigious honors, including the Diana Award from the UK for his humanitarian impact, the Community Champion Award from the CEO and President of the Starbucks Coffee Company, as well as the President’s Volunteer Service Award from three consecutive U.S. Presidents—Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Nguyen is also a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most selective fellowships for future global leaders, and has been inducted into the Clinton Global Initiative University and the Obama Foundation’s Leaders USA program. He earned his undergraduate degree in business from Washington State University and his master’s in educational technology from Johns Hopkins University. His global perspective is shaped by studying abroad on all seven continents and by impactful roles with NASA, the U.S. Department of State, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Aneri Pattani, BSPH ’24
Aneri Pattani is an experienced journalist who shines a light on health care and health policy issues in the everyday lives of people across the United States. As a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow, she was able to bring public health knowledge and practices to her work, expanding the impact of her journalism. Ms. Pattani worked closely with Johns Hopkins University faculty members to develop a massive open online course focused on responsible suicide reporting for journalists, which has been instrumental in shaping the way her organization, KFF Health News, reports on mental health issues. Her work also earned national recognition, with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Journalism Ethics hosting her in 2023 as their journalist-in-residence, where she presented to multiple classes and hosted a training open to the public about responsible reporting on suicide. Ms. Pattani has received multiple awards for her reporting, including a 2021 award from the Institute for Nonprofit News for reporting on the flawed oversight of addiction treatment facilities in Pennsylvania. She was also part of a team that received the News Leaders Association’s 2021 Batten Medal for Coverage of the Coronavirus Pandemic. She was a 2019 recipient of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. In addition to this outstanding work, Ms. Pattani has spent the last two years covering the roughly $50 billion that is being allotted to states from opioid settlement dollars and reporting on how states use, or misuse, this funding. In nearly 30 articles published with KFF Health News and partners such as NPR, she has brought attention to political decisions that might otherwise remain hidden from public view. Her reporting has increased transparency around the second largest public payout in United States history and is critical to the health and wellness of individuals and communities. The impact of her work will be recognized long after the final settlement money is distributed.

Michael Repper, Peab ’22
Michael Repper’s accomplishments are remarkable, not only for their breadth but for the impact they have made in the classical music world. At just 30 years old, he became the youngest North American conductor—and the second youngest of all time—to win a GRAMMY® for Best Orchestral Performance. This honor speaks to his exceptional skill and his ability to inspire both musicians and listeners alike. As the Music Director of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and Northern Neck Orchestra of Virginia, Michael’s commitment to creating meaningful, inclusive musical experiences shines through. His tenure as Principal Conductor of Sinfonía por el Perú, a prestigious social impact program, and his work with the New York Youth Symphony at Carnegie Hall further demonstrate his dedication to education, outreach, and innovation in music. His album with the New York Youth Symphony, featuring works by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, and Valerie Coleman, topped the Billboard charts, cementing his place as a leader in music circles. Michael is particularly dedicated to new music and the next generation of composers, regularly programming world premieres and pursuing innovative commissions. He has been an advocate for fresh voices, with performances of Carnegie Hall premieres and collaborations with some of the world’s most respected ensembles. As a Conducting Fellow with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, he demonstrated a keen ear for new music and gained recognition as a trusted collaborator with orchestras nationwide, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ravinia Festival, and the New School of Music, among others. Beyond his conducting achievements, Michael’s ability to adapt and lead through challenging times is equally notable. During the pandemic, he was one of the first to embrace distanced orchestral performances, showcasing his resilience and innovation. His work was featured on CNN, alongside a special performance with Billy Ray Cyrus, highlighting his ability to connect with a broad, diverse audience. In recognition of his extraordinary talents, Michael has been awarded multiple Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Awards and continues to receive widespread acclaim in the global music community. His passion for using music as a vehicle for positive change is truly inspiring and brings credit to the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.