This Aggie Study Abroad Trip in the ’70s Led to Love and a Legacy

Keneipp appreciated studying architecture in a new context while visiting many European destinations that summer, but the biggest takeaway of the trip was meeting Rita King ’89, a student from Columbia University who was studying social policy for the summer at Manchester. They saw each other often on campus, and friendship blossomed into romance as the couple strolled the cobblestone streets, exploring antique shops and admiring the old buildings. When the summer ended, Keneipp followed King to New York. Six months later, he brought her home to College Station as his bride.

The study abroad experience for both Keneipp and King formed a critical foundation for their career success and instilled in them a lifelong love of travel. Now, more than 50 years later, the couple is revisiting their origin story as they fund scholarships for student travel in the College of Architecture.

From DQ to the Duomo

Keneipp and King lived in College Station through the ’70s and ’80s. King completed a master’s degree in adult education through Texas A&M and moved into leadership roles in human resources, while Keneipp had a successful career in architecture. Since the late ’80s, the couple has resided in Arizona and has enjoyed decades of travel, visiting all points on the compass. Lately, their health has kept them closer to home, but their house is full of treasured items collected from around the globe to remind them of the life of adventure they have had, and that they hope to inspire in the next generation of Aggies.

In 2002, the couple created an estate gift for study abroad scholarship support but recently began making cash gifts from their IRA’s required minimum distribution through an IRA qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to fund an endowed scholarship sooner. The couple appreciates the financial benefit of structuring the gift this way, as funds given through a QCD are not taxed, lowering the couple’s annual tax burden. They also cherish the opportunity to know the students who would receive the scholarships, allowing them to glimpse their impact during their lifetime. “Hearing from the students we support is quite endearing,” Keneipp said.

Their scholarship is designed for seniors and graduate students in the College of Architecture, with preference given to students who haven’t had the opportunity to travel before. The first recipients of their scholarship traveled to Florence, Italy, for the fall 2025 semester.
 

“It was very different than looking at photos,” she explained. “I could walk through the spaces and sketch them. This trip made me appreciate architecture in a way that you can’t learn in the classroom.” Salazar also learned about the culture, history and politics of Florence, and how past events have created the architecture that informs the present.

“It opened my eyes to a whole new world. It made me appreciate the work of an architect and how we can shape towns for generations,” she said. “I now have a sense of the responsibility of this career.”

Without this scholarship, a study abroad experience would have been challenging for Salazar. “This support reduced the financial stress for my family and me,” she said.

While she was there, she followed Keneipp’s and King’s example and traveled to see as much of Europe as possible, including Spain, Germany and France. Along the way, she sent postcards to the couple and has continued to keep in touch after her return. Knowing their stories of travel and career impact, as well as their influence on the lives of others, has inspired her. When she graduates and starts her career as an architect, she hopes to join the network of Aggies supporting Aggies, too.

“Funding this kind of program truly transforms the life of a student who will become a professional and impact the world,” she said. “It's life-changing, and it resonates into the future.”