Dawn Romano is the first person, male or female, to receive a Black Belt from the Oyster Bay Police Activity League Karate Program.

She started seven years ago when she was 10 years old. Today, Dawn is a senior at Oyster Bay High School. She is a member and the treasurer of the National Honor Society and was selected into the Student Athlete Leadership Program. She was ranked sixth in her graduating class.

Bill Ott, director of the OB-EN PAL program said, "On Dec. 16 Dawn reached her goal by passing a test held at the Oyster Bay Community Center, before a panel of six Black Belt judges. She was reviewed and awarded her Black Belt. She has been studying Tae Kwon Do style karate under instructor Andy Hall for the last seven years.

"She earned the first Black Belt awarded by the PAL Program of OB-EN."

The process takes a great deal of time and commitment. The black belt written test takes a full year to complete. She had a very lengthy paper to do first. It consisted of knowing all the styles of martial arts and their history.

The physical test was given over a series of three classes. The first class consisted of doing various exercises: for example 300 crunches. FYI: Crunches are a form of a sit-up, but you do it with your hands behind your neck!

The second class consisted of performing all of the Tae Kwon Do forms, from white belt to brown belt.

The third and final test was conducted in front of a panel of instructors from many martial art schools. This was the most difficult part of the test.

Dawn first did her Black Belt form, then demonstrated self-defense techniques with a partner. Then she had to show how to defend herself against a knife attack.

The last event was sparring, first with a brown belt girl, second with a black belt man (not too small either). She then had to fight two people at the same time and then three people at the same time.

After the sparring was complete she had to hold a horse stance for six minutes. The horse stance is done by putting your feet out a shoulder width apart and then you bend your knees to a 90 degree angle and stand there for six minutes.

After seven years of hard work and devotion, Dawn was rewarded with her Black Belt.

She has been a tough competitor, injuries haven't stopped her. "I've had a few, broken fingers, and a concussion."

But that didn't stop her. "Not at all!" Someone said that is the difference between a professional and an amateur.

Dawn has been sharing what she has learned. "I do some teaching in the class; I help out younger Belts and I warm the class up." It is a traditional Japanese art form and begins with a small ceremony. "We bow in, and then we do exercises like jumping jacks and push ups," she said.

Although at this time there is no scholarship for karate, "We've looked into it," she said. "I will probably continue in college. They have karate college clubs."

Still it will look good on a college application, especially since Dawn has gotten to the highest rank in the sport - the Black Belt.

How did she start in karate? "I just followed a friend to the class and I loved it."

She's traveled to tournaments around New York and on Long Island where she has competed against other girls involved with the self-defense sport.

Being able to defend herself is an aspect of karate that her mother, Janis, likes. With Dawn going off to college, she said she feels confident that she doesn't have to worry about her defending herself physically.

Her dad said simply, "We're proud of her!"

Dawn hasn't decided on a college at the moment, but she has her eye on pre-med. "I'd like to be a doctor. I've been looking into surgery or forensic pathology."

For relaxation Dawn plays softball. She is on the Oyster Bay Varsity Softball team. She plays second base, a position in which her karate skills of speed and concentration certainly will be a help.

For information about the OB-EN PAL programs call Police Officer Bill Ott at 922-6647.