Rapid City, SD – KTEQ, the student-run radio station at South Dakota Mines, 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, particularly in the Black Hills.
The induction ceremony is the capstone of South Dakota’s biggest rock weekend, which kicks off with the annual Youth Battle of the Bands on Friday, Oct. 10. KTEQ is being recognized as the Radio Station inductee for the 2025 class.
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. Run and operated entirely by students, the Rapid City station became a launching pad for underground music and a voice for artistic freedom in the area.
The Hall of Fame induction is more than a nod to the station’s historic impact; it is a reminder of what is possible when creative collaboration has a stable platform to flourish, coinciding with a renewed student interest in radio.
KTEQ’s campus advisor, Jason Ward, noted the honor’s significance. “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,” Ward said. “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, the station 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 for the station will be Copenhaver; Ward; Greg Carey, founder of the Tech Educational Radio Council and the original filer for the license; Gary Brown, the station’s first manager; and Bruce Kraft, one of its first DJs.
The 2025 inductee class also includes Surfin’ Safari, Crash Alley, The Tracterz, and Spooncat! in the Band category, along with other industry professionals. The South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association event honors those who have helped define rock and roll in the state.