Kindness comes naturally to Perth Amboy High School student Dalisha Romero.
“She is one of those students that I have a hard time finding the right words for – she is just so good” said Nicholas Cano, the Perth Amboy High School swimming coach who has known Romero, a senior, for the past three years.
“I’ve had her on my team since her sophomore year. She is very humble, she is very generous, and she has been my captain since her junior year. Anytime there are leadership conferences, I have her go represent the team. I know that her character is it that of a leader.”
Romero, who swims the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly, gets along with her teammates “fabulously.”
“When she had an little bit of an injury and couldn’t be in the pool, she would come to practice and be like my second assistant coach and work one-on-one with the other kids and do drills. Everyone pretty much looks to her as a leader. I have never had to question anything when I put responsibility in her hands,” Cano said.
Among her activities, Romero is part of the school’s Heroes and Cool Kids, which is a club for student-athletes who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. The members go to the city’s middle schools, hold events and mentor students there.
“No one on my team can say anything negative about her. She’s such a sweet, bubbly personality. She is so generous,” Cano said.
People who have met her are struck by her grace, empathy and maturity. Her coach knows she will be missed greatly when she graduates in June, but Cano is happy for her because the “world is her oyster.”
Romero’s thoughtfulness and positive attitude are just two of the exemplary qualities of this high school senior which have earned her the Kindness Counts Award from the Greater Middlesex Conference. She received the prestigious honor at the conference’s 23rd Annual Sportsmanship Awards Luncheon on April 17 at The Pines Manor in Edison.
The Peter Fund and The Marisa Tufaro Foundation presented Romero with a commemorative plaque and $500 to donate in her name to a charity of her choice that assists children in need in Middlesex County.
The Kindness Counts Award was established in honor of high school student-athlete Peter Bonn-Elchoness, who died suddenly in his sleep from a rare disease that causes damage to the heart. The 17-year-old from Niwot, Colorado was renowned throughout his school community as a magnetic presence and gifted student-athlete who always looked out for others.
Shortly after his passing just 16 months ago, Peter’s family learned the full extent of his generous spirit through condolence letters they received from his classmates. Among other acts, Peter stood up to bullies, supported kids in crisis, and rooted for teammates and competitors.
His parents, Dave Elchoness and Eve Bonn, were told Peter saved lives. Dave and Eve established The Peter Fund, a nonprofit that encourages young people to mirror their son’s kind nature. Peter’s father, Dave, an Edison High School alumnus, traveled nearly 1,800 miles to return to his hometown to present Romero and three others with the award.
Cano said he was proud that Romero was nominated for the Kindness Counts Award and extremely happy when he learned she would be honored with it.
“She is one of those kids who does a lot — not for the recognition — but for sake of doing it, Cano said. “Kids like her don’t do it for the accolades but it’s great when they are recognized.”