Villanova Curvey Scholar Program Expands

Luke Smolan '26 will carry something significant with him to college next year: a scholarship that represents not just financial support, but a legacy of belief in what students can do when given the opportunity.

Smolan has been named the next Brewster recipient of the Curvey Scholarship at Villanova University, joining a growing group of Bobcats who have walked that path before him. He will follow Levi Brekke '22, Rylee Rizzitano '24, and Randall Preston '25, who are currently enrolled at Villanova as Curvey Scholars.

"I want to show my appreciation for this scholarship by making the most of this opportunity both academically and personally," Luke says. "I plan to work hard and get involved in the Villanova community the same way I did at Brewster. It really is an unbelievable opportunity, and one that I cannot be more excited about."

The scholarship was established in 2019 by James C. Curvey, former longtime executive and Vice Chairman of Fidelity Investments and Trustee Emeritus at Brewster Academy. A Villanova alumnus himself, Mr. Curvey created the four-year, $15,000 scholarship out of a belief that Brewster and Villanova share something essential: a student-centered approach and a genuine commitment to community. He has watched that partnership deepen with each scholar selected, and he is now taking it further.

Beginning with the Class of 2027, Mr. Curvey is expanding the Villanova scholarship to support two Brewster students annually. He’s also increasing the award to $20,000 for each Villanova Curvey Scholar, current and future. It is a meaningful step forward for a program that has already changed the trajectory of six Brewster students' lives.

“The level of commitment and engagement that James Curvey has given to students and our communities is extraordinary,” says Lynne Palmer, the James C. Curvey Endowed Program Director. “Mr. Curvey cares deeply about making an impact on a meaningful level and continues to be actively involved in how this program can expand in value and service.”

The Villanova scholarship is one part of a broader relationship between Mr. Curvey and Brewster that stretches back years. In 2009, he established the Curvey Scholar Program for local students from the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, modeled after the Villanova program. It is the kind of community-rooted investment that distinguishes New Hampshire boarding schools committed to expanding access and opportunity beyond their campuses. To date, 46 students have participated. In 2017, the Curvey Family deepened that commitment further by creating a Fellowship opportunity, offering scholars a $10,000 stipend to travel across the United States and Canada, with the goal of pushing students beyond their comfort zones and into new experiences.

The numbers tell part of that story. Curvey Scholars have visited more than 30 states, explored 14 National Parks, summited mountains, and collectively logged over 49,000 miles by airplane, train, boat, and foot.

In 2021, Mr. Curvey's investment in Brewster took another meaningful form with the establishment of the James C. Curvey Endowed Staff Position, the first endowed staff position in Brewster's history.

Smolan, a senior prefect, will be the next to carry that legacy forward, heading to Villanova in the fall as the latest example of what this partnership between two schools and one committed supporter can make possible.