When an 18-year-old student died after a head-on crash on a Texas highway, her parents decided to turn their grief into a lasting tribute to the strangers who tried to save her life. Kenli Riney was driving along the highway when her vehicle spun off the road into a ditch and caught fire. The Argote family was travelling behind her and witnessed the crash. Mike Argote and three other people immediately ran toward the burning vehicle and pulled Riney from the wreckage. Although Argote suffered burns during the rescue, he quickly began performing CPR on Riney. When he became too tired to continue, his 14-year-old daughter, Ema Argote, took over and continued trying to save her life. After realizing that Riney had died, the Argote family gathered beside her on the roadside and prayed together. Riney’s parents, Marjohn and Kevin Riney, knew very little about the people who had spent their daughter’s final moments trying to save her. The family eventually learned who the rescuers were after Riney’s uncle found a Facebook post describing the crash. This discovery led to an emotional meeting between the two families. They have stayed close and maintained their connection in the years since the accident.
Memorial establishment honours courage in crisis
After the tragedy, Marjohn and Kevin Riney started the Kenli Foundation in Kerrville, Texas. The couple had moved to Kerrville to support their daughter’s dream of studying equine surgery at university. The foundation was created to support young people who show great courage, kindness, and leadership in their everyday lives or during difficult and dangerous situations. Marjohn Riney explained the reason behind starting the foundation in an interview with the Good News Network. “Strangers ran toward the fire,” Marjohn Riney told the publication. “We exist to find more people like them.” The non-profit organization provides financial support to people who have shown outstanding character, helped others during emergencies, or lived with strong faith and values similar to those Riney believed in.
Growth in educational support across the nation
Since it began, the foundation has grown and reached more students. According to the organization’s reports, it has awarded 67 individual scholarships worth a total of $67,000 to students attending colleges, trade schools, and graduate programs. The number of scholarship applications has also grown quickly over the past five years. During its first year, the foundation received just four applications. By 2026, that number had increased to 451 applications each year, according to figures released by the organization. Along with its growing scholarship program, the foundation continues to offer special annual awards connected to the people involved in the 2021 crash. Each year, it gives a scholarship to a graduating senior at Tivy High School in Kerrville in memory of Riney.
Supporting the next generation of heroes
The foundation also introduced the Argote Award Scholarship at San Saba High School. This annual scholarship was created to recognize and honour the family members who risked their safety while trying to rescue Riney after the highway crash. Ema Argote was the first student to receive this special award. After graduating from high school, she continued her education and began working toward a degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio. “Ema graduated high school this year, and of course we awarded her the scholarship,” Marjohn Riney told the Hill Country Community Journal. “She’s pursuing a degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio.” The foundation raises money for its scholarships through community events, support from local businesses, and an annual charity golf tournament in Kerrville. Information on the foundation’s official website shows that business sponsorships have helped it increase its awards from four scholarships in its first year to 22 scholarships each year. Students receiving support now come from 24 states and international regions. Nominations for the next round of student hero scholarships will open on 1 January 2027 through the foundation’s online portal.