SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – KELOLAND Media Group has made two promotions involving South Dakota natives taking over anchor positions in the newsroom.
Lauren Soulek, who has been reporting at KELOLAND since 2019, has been promoted to the weekday evening news anchor. Soulek will anchor KELOLAND News at 6 and 10.
Summer Raderschadt has been promoted to anchor on KELOLAND This Morning. Raderschadt has been a reporter at KELOLAND since 2023.
Both Soulek and Raderschadt were born and raised in South Dakota and shared what they enjoy most about living and working in their home state.
Soulek said she enjoys the landscape of South Dakota, traveling both East River and West River.
“As cliche as it may sound, what I love most about South Dakota really is the people. No matter the differences or disagreements that people have, at the end of the day, everyone really is there for their neighbors,” Soulek said. “I always had some extra family love while growing up in Delmont and Tripp. That continued as I moved to Vermillion for college and now to Sioux Falls.”
Raderschadt, who came back to South Dakota after attending college in Missouri, said she feels a connection to people in KELOLAND.
“I love how close-knit South Dakota is,” Raderschadt said. “While South Dakota grows, the small town feel stays the same, and I think that is one of the many charms our state offers.”
While working at KELOLAND Media Group, both Soulek and Raderschadt said they’ve grown as journalists.
“I always looked at KELOLAND as the celebrities of South Dakota,” Raderschadt said. “Once I started working here, I realized that these are real people. Everyone you meet is a real person. While you may see different sides of state leaders and business owners, all of them have real feelings, real stories, and are just as human as the rest of us. I also have learned that South Dakotans care.”
Soulek joked she’s not scared to drive around in Sioux Falls anymore after growing up in Delmont.
“I think working at KELOLAND has really just helped me connect to so much more of South Dakota that I hadn’t before,” Soulek said. “I’ve learned that everyone has a story worth telling and I am always grateful whenever they trust me to help them tell it.”
