Everett Lau

WTHI Storm Team 10 Weekend Morning Meteorologist/MMJ

There isn’t enough room on this website for me to share everything I love about WEIU and how much it helped me grow personally and professionally. I graduated from EIU in 2021 after working at News Watch all four years of college – four years I wouldn’t trade for anything.

I joined WEIU in fall 2017 pursuing my childhood dream of becoming a broadcast meteorologist. Four years later, I walked out as a broadcast meteorologist with experience in the newsroom as an anchor, reporter and producer, lasting friendships, and skillset I never expected to gain. Working all angles of a newscast those four years gave me invaluable knowledge that I use on a daily basis and allowed me to go on-air three days into my job at WTHI-TV.

I owe my success in my professional career to WEIU and its staff, especially to News Director Kelly Goodwin. Kelly pushed me outside my comfort zone often, making me grow and learn and allowing me to leave WEIU with a reel and resume full of experiences many students are never able to get in college. News Watch is successful because of the time and dedication she puts into the program, and I am forever grateful for the trust she and professor Cameron Craig put in me during my time at WEIU.

Katie Hlebasko

Web and Social Media Producer, WAND TV

"Everything I’ve achieved in my professional life started with WEIU. I owe so much to the program. Once I graduated, I was able to put on my resume that I already had years of experience working both in the field and in the studio.

I was trained to wear many different hats, something that served me very well when applying for jobs. I was able to get my first position out of college at a station in a Top 100 market due to that experience. The lessons I learned were invaluable and the network of colleagues, former teachers, and mentors who continue to build you up and support you long after graduation is something rare and special. Thank you WEIU and EIU! I’ll always Bleed Blue!"

Bridget K. Morris

Production Manager, NBATV

Bridget handles operations and logistics for all live studio and remote shows on NBATV.

"WEIU is the reason I am successful today. My love for radio and technical production brought me to live broadcast. I learned so much about teamwork at WEIU and how passion drives creative, collaborative ideas.”

Kyle Guertin

Director of Video Production, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Advanced Class A Affiliate, Chicago Cubs)

“WEIU got my foot in the door in my industry. No one would have given me a look if it weren't for the experience WEIU gave me, and now I get paid to watch 70+ baseball games a year."

Orion Buckingham

Digital Program Director, Illini Radio Group
(On-air with Rewind 92.5 and Mix 94.5; PA announcer for University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics)

“WEIU gave me a start in broadcasting with real stakes and real experience right off the bat. It gives you the opportunity to learn your craft in a professional environment while still in college. This gives graduates a leg up professionally at their first jobs. It’s why you see so many WEIU graduates doing such great things!”

Abbey Taylor

Multimedia Journalist, KY3, Springfield, MO

“I graduated from EIU in 2018. I worked at WEIU for all four years of college. I did everything from production, news reporting, producing and anchoring. WEIU will always be near and dear to my heart.

My transition into my first broadcast job wouldn’t have gone smoothly if it wasn’t for everything I learned at WEIU. It gave me the tools but also the confidence to cover breaking news, feature stories and everything in between. I owe News Director Kelly Goodwin along with WEIU for giving me everything I need to excel in my career. GO EIU!”

Tyler Rusk

Sports Reporter/Talk Show Host/Play-by-Play at Fox Sports & ESPN, Texarkana, TX

“WEIU gave me a start to where I am today. It got me involved in so many things, other than just radio too. The things I learned at WEIU are still things I'm using on a day to day basis and I'd already had a step up in the professional world because of WEIU too. There's not enough great things to say about this program, so I'll end with please support it.”

LaMar Holliday

Deputy Director of Public Affairs, City of Indianapolis Mayor's Office

“WEIU played a vital role in my career! I transferred from a college in my home state to attend EIU/WEIU because of the best journalism program around and their strong reputation to produce top journalists. It is a hidden gem I was elated to uncover.

Transferring to EIU changed the trajectory of my career. Prior to graduating, I landed two paid reporting internships. I was one of 12 journalism students across the country to participate in the Meredith-Cronkite Fellowship Program in Phoenix, AZ through CBS 5 and Arizona State University’s Journalism and Communication Department. All the experience between WEIU and my internships landed me my first TV reporting job weeks before I graduated! I would go on to be a TV reporter across markets in Illinois, Texas and Indiana.

Now, I serve in the government public relations/communications field. The foundation I received at WEIU/EIU prepared me for today’s ever-changing world of communication and journalism. I don’t know where my career would be without WEIU/EIU.”

Nancy Yousef

News Producer, FOX 32 Chicago

“WEIU is the reason I am successful today. I was able to gain hands-on experience and really get a feel for what live TV was all about. I landed an Evening News Anchor Job right after I graduated from EIU at the age of 21.

Thanks to the experience I got both in front of the camera and behind the scenes I was able to move up markets and find what it is that I truly have a passion for...producing. Thanks WEIU.”

Valerie Badillo

Content Producer, NBC 5 Chicago

“I can not thank my teachers and other mentors at EIU and WEIU enough. The hands-on experience I received at Hitmix 88.9 WEIU kickstarted my career in the industry.

I graduated with a freelance position at Univision Radio, a job I acquired after being the first EIU student to be chosen for the Illinois Broadcast Association’s Multicultural Internship Program. I was later promoted to Univision TV, where I received training that led to a news associate position at the Associated Press. Now, I am a content producer for NBC 5 Chicago. As content producer I write scripts for anchors, assist reporters with live shots, edit videos and create graphics for our live broadcasts.

Mentors like Jeff Owens and Rob Calhoun really push their radio students to succeed, advising them to seek out internships and assist with recommendation letters. WEIU is a student’s chance to get a head start in their broadcast career and prepare them of what to expect. I would not be where I am today without Eastern Illinois University and WEIU.”

Lacey Spence

Producer/Director, WEIU-TV

“They say 'Life takes you unexpected places, love brings you home.' That’s true for me! I’m a 2016 graduate of Eastern Illinois University and of the WEIU News Watch Program. I've got a Geography degree with a Broadcast Meteorology Minor (I wanted to be a Meteorologist). As the TV business goes, it's all about timing, and the job you're after isn't always open when you are.

After graduation, I worked as a weekend morning news anchor, producer, and reporter at WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, IN followed by WAND-TV in Decatur, IL. I always called Charleston home, but commuting took a huge toll. When I learned there was an open producer position at WEIU, I jumped at the chance to return to my roots at this wonderful station. It’s an honor to be back, hosting Being Well, and to mentor more students. WEIU has the power to take you wherever you’d like to go, and for me, it’s home!”

Kelly (Cress) Goodwin

WEIU-TV News Director

“I graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1992 and spent several years both behind the scenes and in front of the camera for 'News Scan'. I am truly grateful to Eastern Illinois University, WEIU-TV, current and former co-workers along with the countless students I’ve worked alongside, for the opportunity to be part of News Watch for the last eighteen years. WEIU is a true gem and the sole reason I was able to work in commercial television for nearly a decade.

I owe my entire career to WEIU, EIU Journalism, and to mentors like Susan Kaufman, David Reed, James Tidwell, Sally Renaud, John Ryan, Jerry Weaver, Howard Price, Ken Beno, John Eisenhower, Cameron Craig, Janice Collins and many others who provided me with guidance, discipline and a little “tough love”. I’m privileged to call myself an EIU graduate and forever member of the WEIU family.”

Sonja Foster

“I worked at WEIU-TV in 93-94 through college work study. Although my time there was brief, the skills and experiences I gained through working with Karl Konrad and Susan Kaufman helped prepare me for working in social services and public policy. They both taught me to look at a story from varying perspectives so that the "true" story could be told. My writing and editing skills were also developed and strengthened :)”

Monica Becker

Morning Show Host/Digital Media Specialist for 94.9 WDKB DeKalb, IL, Afternoon Host on B103 WGFB Rockford, IL, and the new liner voice for Hit-Mix 88.9 WEIU!

“There aren’t enough words to describe the value of Hit-Mix and WEIU in my life. I graduated in 2011 and can trace every bit of success I’ve had to them. They are the foundation of my career, providing me with the knowledge and real radio experience I needed to achieve a full time on-air gig. They nurtured me, pushed me, and encouraged me to grow into the personality I am today. More than that, they taught me to love radio. I will always look back on my years with WEIU as some of the best memories of my life. I can’t thank them enough!”

Mike Kiser

News Reporter/Anchor/Sports Announcer at WDWS/WHMS/WKIO Radio

"WEIU has meant a lot to me and my career. The hands-on and real life experiences you can gain are invaluable to say the least. You can only learn so much in the classroom, so getting the opportunity to be on the air in a professional type environment, was instrumental in preparing me for the real world. I wish I would've spent more time at WEIU during my two years on campus, because you can't be there too much while in college."

Patrick Comerford

Technical Director & Studio Coordinator - US Dept. of Veterans Affairs

"I graduated from EIU in 2006 and my experience at WEIU continues to help me grow in my career. I was all but certain I was going to attend the University of Missouri to study broadcasting but that all changed the day I visited EIU and specifically WEIU. After my conversations with Mike Bradd and Kelly Goodwin I knew EIU is where I should be.

WEIU offers students the opportunity to work in a hands-on environment from day 1 which is not the case at a lot of universities. I filled every production position at some point during my time at WEIU which was huge in helping me get a job after college. Like many WEIU graduates, I had television stations seeking me out to work for them after I graduated. I truly believe the staff and the opportunity to learn on state-of-the-art equipment is a big reason why WEIU grads have few problems getting jobs after college. I can’t thank the staff enough for being great mentors and I will forever be grateful for my experiences at WEIU."

Joe Collins

NBC Sports Chicago Managing Editor

"EIU – and specifically WEIU TV/FM — has had a profound impact on my career. I would not be at this position today if it were not for the efforts of both of those teams, the department of journalism and communication studies and the College of Arts and Humanities.

Eastern Illinois University gave me the hands-on experience necessary for the first critical steps in my career, which included stops at CLTV and WGN-TV in Chicago. They also provided me with a diverse wealth of knowledge in those areas…from communications law to ethics and all areas of broadcast and sports media production. I am happy to call myself an EIU graduate, Class of 2001."

Jennifer Ketchmark

Morning Meteorologist at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, OH

Jennifer credits WEIU for a large part of her success. It gave her a leg up leaving college from the other graduates because she already had a great resume tape and experience to show news directors. It actually worked so well she had a job a year before graduating! The versatile skills she learned continue to help her 13 years after graduation.

Jaynell Perera

Producer, WRCB Channel 3, Chattanooga, Tennessee

“I was unsure what I wanted to do after graduation, whether I wanted to go into print or broadcast journalism. I decided to join WEIU as soon as I stepped foot on campus... so I did. I walked in, met Kelly Goodwin, and she immediately gave me an opportunity to join.

News Watch gave me first-hand experience and it is almost exactly what I am doing now at my current position. Working at WEIU, everyone is like a family, and if you need anything, everyone steps up and is available to help. Not only did I learn how to be a better journalist, my experience at News Watch taught me how to be a better person. I will always be thankful for my time at WEIU.”

Sandra (Skadauski) Guile

Public Relations Specialist, BBB, Cincinnati

Sandra, a journalism major who graduated from EIU in 1992, is a spokesperson, presenter and community outreach guru for the BBB; she's married to Alan Guile (also Class of '92), a Communications major and TV photog turned full-time firefighter.

"I worked at WEIU-TV in 93-94 through college work study. Although my time there was brief, the skills and experiences I gained through working with Karl Konrad and Susan Kaufman helped prepare me for working in social services and public policy. Thet both taught me to look at stories from varying perspectives so that the 'true' story could be told. My writing and editing skills were also developed and strengthed."

Caitlin Napoleoni

Weekday Morning Forecaster, NBC5 in Burlington, Vermont

“Working at WEIU was without a doubt the key to me being able to get my first job in broadcast. I came away from college with a reel from a live student run broadcasts when other college graduates had never even been on a weather wall before. I was also making my own forecasts from scratch every single day which is invaluable after graduation when you're thrown into forecasting for a new place right away.

I'm grateful for that experience and for having learned every other job at a TV station because I know what it takes to create a newscast from every angle. I still use a lot of the knowledge I got while at EIU in my broadcast career today, years later!”

Matt Byrne

Sports Videographer, NBC 5 Chicago

“I’m a graduate of EIU Class of 1999. I worked at WEIU when the current station was under construction and had an opportunity to learn on the latest and greatest equipment available in the field at the time. WEIU gave me so much experience in so many aspects of television and really prepared me for real world situations.

If you’re in the Chicagoland area you may have seen my work! I’ve been in many very demanding and high stress situations to deliver a quality on-air product without error. In my 18 years at NBC Chicago I’ve covered Super Bowls, 3 Stanley Cup Championships, a World Series, and many more countless historic events. Learning non-linear editing at Eastern put me ahead of the curve in Chicago. And now social media being (Instagram @SportPhotogNBC5) a big deal and I had to become creative to show my material in a new way. This is all because of WEIU! What a great stepping stone for my leap into the television world!”

Lauren Rainson

Meteorologist, KPHO CBS 5/KTVK 3TV Arizona

“WEIU means EVERYTHING to my career. When I transferred my junior year to Eastern Illinois University, I still had no idea what career path I wanted to pursue. Since I knew that I loved weather and earth sciences, the counselors recommended that I try the Broadcast Meteorology Program.

Despite lacking any knowledge about broadcast meteorology, I dove in and got my feet wet in the business at WEIU PBS. It's safe to say that without WEIU PBS I certainly would NOT be where I am today! WEIU PBS laid the foundation to my future, and I am forever grateful.”

UPDATE: After my recent network and national television experience, I followed my husband to the Phoenix Valley for his job. As of June 24, 2021, I am serving the nation's 11th television market, at KPHO CBS 5/KTVK 3TV Arizona's Family, as the newest meteorologist.

Jon Roemer

Producer/Editor, National Football League and Spectrum Sportsnet

“I graduated in 2013 and worked at WEIU for all four years that I was at Eastern. I’m now living in Los Angeles and am a Producer/Editor for the NFL as well as Spectrum Sportsnet, the TV home of the Lakers and Dodgers.

The lessons that I learned while working at WEIU are directly related to the success that i’ve been able to achieve as a professional. Responsibility, accountability and collaboration are just some of the countless skills that I acquired while spending time at HitMix and contributions to Panther Sports Talk. It’s safe to say that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for WEIU.

The picture attached is from my wedding! I married fellow EIU alum Krystina Lamorte in July of this year. We met while at Eastern.”

Catherine Thoma

Producer, The Price Is Right

"I decided to attend EIU because of the News program, WEIU-TV. I knew I wanted to get into television at a young age. I wanted to get real life experience and get my hands on equipment and be fully involved in the entire process. WEIU-TV let me try everything from assigning stories, reporting, directing, chyron and anchoring! It gave me the real life experience that I needed to assure me that TV is my passion. Working at WEIU-TV felt real ... it was live. it was a serious newscast. In my 4 years at EIU, I felt as though I was full time at WEIU-TV and part time student. I have the work ethic I have today because of WEIU-TV.

Kelly Runyon, WEIU-TV News Director, was an incredible teacher and mentor from DAY ONE and encouraged us to step outside our comfort zones and learn every position. I believe it made us all better at our craft! I'm eternally grateful for the skills and experiences I learned being a part of a live 30 minute news broadcast! Kelly gave me the tools I needed to for the real world and also gave me the confidence to get out there and thrive! Everything started with WEIU-TV and Kelly Runyon!!

As a Producer of The Price is Right, I have my hand on every episode. It's not a cookie cutter job ... everyday is different and thats what i love about this industry! From casting to creative elements to the overall execution of the show! It's a laundry list of responsibilities and I have my hands in every aspect of the show from interviewing contestants, writing showcases and scripts, cue cards, prizing, staging, special effects, props, tracking the game play, noting episodes, pulling clips for PR, etc. We have a number of really fun specials at The Price is Right...ie: Breast Cancer Awareness, Valentine's Day, Kids Week, First Responders, Dream Car Week, Big Money Week...and they require A LOT of creative attention. As a Producer I'm responsible for graphic designs, set decoration, themed showcases, and curating specific audiences. On top of that ... for the last 3 seasons I've been managing TPIR's Social Media. I pull episodic content, write captions, create social schedules, edit materials, and shoot original content on stage with our audience members and cast members!

There's been numerous occasions when contestants or family members come up to me after a taping and hug and thank me, that's the best. That's what it's all about. These people are living out a dream they never thought was possible! They travel from all over the world, they make these incredible T-shirts, they celebrate birthdays/anniversaries/bachelor and bachelorette parties/beating cancer WITH US!! It's an indescribable energy that takes over the studio and when George Gray says their name and they win tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes ... it's LIFE CHANGING and I love being a part of that! I also love the nostalgia of it all ... The Price is Right is iconic!

I got my start in television when I moved to LA in 2008 and worked for (my dream job) The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Since then I have worked on numerous nationally recognized shows like Shark Tank, The Biggest Loser, So You Think You Can Dance, and Master Chef."

Amber (Jenne) Hankins

Emmy-Nominated TV Host, WISH-TV’s Local Lifestyle Talk Show “Indy Style”

“When I think of my time at WEIU-TV, I remember transferring in as a junior with an unclear direction of where I wanted to be. I enjoyed communicating, interviewing and being around people, but where that would all take me in terms of my career path was still unknown.

That’s when I met Kelly Runyon. I remember her asking me if I knew what a VO or a VO/SOT was. Ha! I did not. No clue. As a total newbie, she was so patient, so kind and so understanding in allowing me to learn and then grow into the eventual TV reporter, anchor and host that I would someday become. I’ll never forget her words to me toward the end of my time there: 'Amber, you have something that cannot be taught. Keep going.' And that, I did. Kelly’s teachings led me to go on to crave even more education and experience, which is why I went on to get my Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My colleagues there dubbed me as a 'Future TV News Star,' and I knew a large part of that was due to my beginning at WEIU TV. You learn hands-on experience at its finest and really get glimpse of not just how to 'do' television news, but how to do it right.

Looking back, WEIU made me grateful, humble and appreciative for a continuous education and people who truly do care about your future. WEIU’s Newswatch will forever be accompanied by fond experiences memories. Memories of being so incredibly “green,” but also so hungry for what 'could ultimately be.' I’m where I am today because of my start in television, and that start will always be WEIU.”

Marine Glisovic

“My time at WEIU has helped shape me into the Emmy-award winning journalist I have become.

While I initially started in radio, a professor at the time suggested I try TV news.

It was intimidating, at first, to walk in to the WEIU newsroom. Not because it wasn’t a welcoming place, but because of the talent and hard work I witnessed. I thought to myself, no way, how do these students complete their school obligations and still find the time to produce a daily live newscast.

WEIU’s News Director, Kelly Runyon, offered me the opportunity of a lifetime. Runyon showed me that if I was dedicated and willing to put in the long hours, I could become of those students.

I wasn’t quite sure what my strengths in a newsroom would be, but Runyon’s approach helps students find their niche.

You don’t get to just walk in and demand to be a reporter or anchor – Runyon makes you earn it.

I am forever grateful for WEIU and Runyon. Most students studying journalism do not have a PBS station located on campus. Other universities may offer campus news, but WEIU operates as a TV station – covering 16 counties and producing a daily live newscast.

The hands-on experience set me apart from other candidates in my field when I graduated Eastern Illinois University. While other journalism graduates across the country were begging to get hired, practically anywhere, I turned down three offers before accepting a reporter position at WICD in Champaign, Illinois.

I have now worked at KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas, for six years as a general assignment reporter. While my title has not changed, the focus of my work has, I specialize in politics and in-depth investigations. I am also a contributor and reporter for our content partner Talk Business & Politics.

I have earned the trust of my community and continue to build a rolodex of contacts and sources. I am proud to say I have earned the nickname “Bulldog” while covering politics.

It takes a special set of skills to find the truth between juggling lobbyists and politicians who seem to always have a special interest or personal gain. While amusing – the running joke – if Marine shows up with a camera and mic, you better have answers or run. Yes, I have had elected officials physically run from me while I was investigating their office.

This type of respect is earned and I wouldn’t have had the skills to earn that it if it weren’t for WEIU.”