KTEQ Takes Its Place in South Dakota Music History

KTEQ, the South Dakota Mines student-run radio station, will take its place in the state’s rock history as it is inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Rollers Hall of Fame during a ceremony Saturday, Oct. 11, at The District in Sioux Falls. The honor recognizes KTEQ’s decades-long influence on the region’s musical and cultural landscape.

Tickets are still available for South Dakota’s biggest rock weekend, which honors the incredible talent and legacy of the state’s music scene. A full list of the 2025 inductees is here. The weekend kicks off with the Battle of the Bands on Friday, Oct. 10.Since first signing on in 1971, KTEQ 91.3 FM has served as a creative hub for local artists and students alike, broadcasting everything from jazz and punk to hip hop and indie rock. Managed and operated entirely by students, the station became a launching pad for underground music and a voice for artistic freedom in the Black Hills.

The Hall of Fame induction serves not only as a recognition of the station’s historic impact but also as a timely reminder of what becomes possible when programming and creative collaboration have a stable platform to flourish, at a moment when student interest in radio is beginning to enjoy a renaissance.

“This recognition is more than just an honor—it’s an opportunity to reflect on what KTEQ has meant to so many and to envision what it can become,” said Jason Ward, campus advisor. “We’re inviting alumni, community members and supporters of independent media to help us strengthen and sustain that legacy for the future.”

With growing community support, KTEQ aims to expand its reach and once again serve as a creative bridge between the Black Hills and the wider music world.

“It’s incredibly motivating to see people reconnecting with the station and taking notice of what we’re building,” said Caleigh Copenhaver, a junior electrical engineering major and KTEQ station manager. “When listeners and alumni share that energy back with us, it makes every bit of effort worthwhile.”

Accepting the honor will be Copenhaver; Ward; Greg Carey, founder of the Tech Educational Radio Council and the original filer for the license, who will be coming up from San Francisco; Gary Brown, the station's first manager; and Bruce Kraft, one of its first DJs.

Listeners can stream KTEQ online at www.KTEQ.org, where programming remains strong. For more information on KTEQ’s history, programming and how to support its next chapter, visit here or follow KTEQ on Facebook or on Instagram.