Will Simmons was living in Chicago when he had an epiphany. After sheltering in place and constantly watching the news during the pandemic, he made a life-altering decision to become a part of broadcast news.

Will and his wife moved to Champaign, where he has family and spent much of his life as a child. He then enrolled at Eastern Illinois University’s prestigious College of Journalism, where he could take classes while also anchoring and reporting for WEIU’s nightly newscast “News Watch.”

Will interned at WCIA 3 in the summer of 2022. The station has always been his favorite news source in Central Illinois, and after that summer he was sure he found the place where he wanted to start his professional journalism career.

“I just felt like I belong at WCIA 3.”

Will enjoys all aspects of broadcast journalism, from presenting on air to editing the video needed for the nightly news. When he’s not out talking to the community, Will loves to hang out with his wife, watch horror films, ride bikes, and listen to post-doom metal.