Hi, I'm John
Engineer, builder, and wrestler. I'm an ECE student at Duke University interested in RF systems, control theory, and hardware development. Whether I'm designing antennas, prototyping electronics, or tackling a new engineering challenge, I enjoy creating practical solutions and learning how things work.
About me
Hi, I’m John Button! I’m an Electrical and Computer Engineering student at Duke University, originally from Caroline County, Virginia.
When I was nine, watching Punkin Chunkin inspired me to build catapults using rope and trees in my backyard. I loved that jump from “Hey, that’s cool” to “Let me try.” Raised by two engineers, I grew up learning how to learn, getting comfortable with things failing, and continuing to experiment because figuring things out was fun.
That curiosity led me to robotics teams, drones, and building antennas. But finding resources wasn’t always straightforward. I didn’t have internet at home until my junior year of high school, so I would sit in McDonald’s using its Wi-Fi to learn from Hackster and Instructables. Those communities helped me explore engineering and made me appreciate how much access to tools, information, and encouragement can matter.
That experience is why I care about the maker movement. Through my involvement with organizations like e-NABLE and 3D DC, and speaking at Maker Faires, I advocated for giving more kids the resources to build and experiment. I wanted to show what young people could do when they had the chance to follow their curiosity.
At Duke, I’ve carried that same enthusiasm into my coursework and projects, from electric vehicles and robotics to an independent study in radio astronomy. I enjoy taking what I learn in class and finding out what I can build with it.
As I continue in engineering, I want to do work that makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives and help more people get the chance to discover what they can create. I’m still motivated by the same thought that got me building in my backyard: “That’s cool. Let me try.”