Riley Goad, a graduate of Columbus Bishop Watterson High School, received the 2026 inaugural year Thomas Patrick and Mary M. McGuire Scholarship, administered by The Catholic Foundation.
Goad, who will attend John Carroll University in Cleveland this fall, was involved in several activities at Watterson including volleyball and track and as a school ambassador, volleyball camp coach and member of the Podcast Club. She participated in the National Catholic Youth Conference and Telos and Kairos retreats, was a member of the National Honor Society and on the honor roll.
Outside of school, she volunteered at Friendship Village of Dublin, worked as a food service assistant with Big League Baseball and was on a national club volleyball team.
Goad, who belongs to Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator Church, plans to study communications in college.
The McGuire Scholarship was established in honor of Tom and Mary McGuire. The couple were founding members of The Catholic Foundation in the diocese. The scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from a diocesan Catholic high school who will attend John Carroll University, where Tom graduated.
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The McGuires, both born to immigrants, settled in Columbus with their three daughters. Tom volunteered with the Red Cross, Big Brothers and SERTOMA organizations and taught religious education at the former Columbus St. Philip the Apostle Church. Mary was a volunteer at Mount Carmel East Hospital, the Columbus Cancer Clinic and with Pilot Dogs. She was also a member of Columbus Christ the King Church choir.
In her scholarship application, Goad expressed her desire to receive a Jesuit education.
“My grandpa admired St. Ignatius for his Jesuit principles. He even donated a stained glass window of St. Ignatius to his church shortly before he passed away on the saint’s feast day. His devotion to this saint is what inspires me to follow the Jesuit tradition. I believe that I can truly stand out among others by applying this Jesuit tradition to my daily life,” she wrote.
Goad will receive approximately $18,000 from the McGuire Scholarship to assist with tuition.