JA 18 Under 18 2025
JOHNS WILLIAMS
An 8th grader at Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School, Johns is getting a head start in the entrepreneurial world. He founded his first business, Earbud Buddy, to solve the all-too-familiar issue of earwax build-up in earbuds. Johns created an eco-friendly instrument using 3-D modeling software to combat the sticky situation and entered it into the 2024 Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) National Youth Business Plan Challenge. Johns and his business continuously stood out, advancing among 18,000 student business plans to the semifinals of the national competition. Johns is also a middle school ambassador for prospective students at his school, serves as editor-in-chief of its literary magazine, volunteers, and has even donated some of his products to auction at fundraising events.
“Johns had to work very hard on his business. He started with only an idea, but he eventually worked hard enough to make it a reality and make money from it.”
—Felicity Ross, teacher