From left: Chloe Constants, Dorothy Constants, Allyson Markussen and Steve Constants at the Avalon Yacht Club.
Alexandria — On July 27, the Constants family of Annapolis, Md., headed to the Jersey Shore to present an Alexandria resident with the first Olivia Constants Foundation college scholarship. Steve and Dorothy Constants created the Olivia Constants Foundation to honor the qualities of their daughter Olivia, who died in a sailing mishap last summer.
Enroute the Lightning Class Atlantic Championships, Steve, Dorothy and Chloe Constants stopped at the Avalon YC to personally congratulate Allyson “Ally” Markussen and speak of the foundation.
With gathering of family and members of the Avalon YC Sailing Committee, Steve Constants presented Markussen with the Olivia Constants Foundation college scholarship and outlined the organization’s goals to partner with teams and community outreach programs to help those in need or those less fortunate than others.
Steve and Dorothy Constants shared the qualities that stood out in Olivia — her distinguishable laugh, genuine kindness and compassion for others — as her gifts that the parents wish to share by helping others in her name.
Markussen was selected for her personal character, compassion and empathy for others that reflected the spirit of Olivia.
A 2012 graduate of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Markussen will enter St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, in the fall. She is the daughter of Dean and Marie Markussen of Alexandria, and spends the summers as a sailing instructor for the Avalon YC on a barrier island in Cape May County, N.J. For more information about the Olivia Constants Foundation and its outreach efforts, go to www.oliviaconstants.org or see their Facebook page at Olivia Constants Foundation.