Friday, June 27, 2014

Once banned for life, 'mooner' now covers CMS

WFAE news intern Nick de la Canal grinned as he introduced himself at this week's Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools news conference.  He could see me struggling to place the name.

"You wrote an article about me a few years ago," he said.

de la Canal
Ah yes  --  the Myers Park mooner!  When he graduated from Myers Park High in 2011,  de la Canal rigged his pants and gown with velcro,  staged a stumble and gave the crowd a view of his polka-dot boxer shorts.  That stunt wouldn't have merited an Observer story,  but the chief of CMS police decided to  "send a message"  by notifying the newly minted graduate he could never again set foot on CMS property.  De la Canal appealed and the ban was reduced to one year.

In my article,  I noted that de la Canal had clashed with school administrators when he penned a musical spoof of the school modeled on  "Charlotte Squawks."  The following week de la Canal was recognized as a celebrity guest at Squawks.  He met Mike Collins,  co-creator of the musical revue and host of WFAE's  "Charlotte Talks."  He was later interviewed by WFAE reporter Scott Graf and met others at the station.

De la Canal went to Emerson College in Boston to major in journalism,  and last summer he landed an internship with WFAE.  This year he's back doing on-air work on topics such as the Read to Achieve program,  which is what brought him to Tuesday's news conference at Hidden Valley Elementary.

"In a way, dropping trou at graduation was the best career move I've made yet. Can't recommend it enough for aspiring young professionals,"  said de la Canal,  in an email agreeing to let me write about what he dubbed  "my boxers-to-briefcase story."

That sense of humor will serve de la Canal well in journalism,  a field notoriously populated with smart-alecks.  But his WFAE bio indicates he's been doing serious work as well,  winning awards for his coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings.

I resisted the temptation to introduce de la Canal to Heath Morrison,  who arrived in 2012,  and fill the superintendent in on his story.  But I'll venture a guess that most folks in CMS aren't sorry to see this alum allowed back on his home turf.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

GREAT " ROLE MODEL " ANN

Anonymous said...

Comedy hour? Moon?
Unsure how the bare exposed rear end end looks like a moon but clearly only shiny white ones apply thus the blogger may be racist.

Good one on Jeter's legislation to block Charter School names and salary as Vinroot adheres too in spite of criticism.

Jeter reminds of the high talker male on the Seinfeld episode but is a fine Republican conservative.

Keep up the good work boy. Try to put a little bass in that voice.

Anonymous said...

@8:45: I'll bet you're a lot of fun at parties.

Anonymous said...

Our daughter graduated with Nick. We were front and center for the 'boxer shorts moment'. Actually, it was hysterical. No body parts...other than scrawny teenage boy legs. We got to know Nick a bit during his years at MPHS. He is a great guy. Glad that he has landed nicely with NPR. I have enjoyed his reporting. Way to go NICK!

Anonymous said...

I was proud of him in 2011 and doubly proud now - way to go, Nick!

Anonymous said...

Wow.

A white male got an internship at NPR?

This really is quite a story!

Unknown said...

"I'll venture a guess that most folks in CMS aren't sorry to see this alum allowed back on his home turf."

Indeed!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad Nick's getting famous for anything; he's been a wonderful and hard-working person ever since the first day I met him, and he's never been a bad person to be around. His sense of humour is spectacular and comforting, and his insight into many a situation has been spot on. If anybody deserves a job at NPR, it's him.

Anonymous said...

Again the Observer with a EPIC news story? Really the 5 cent rag is getting really bad. The fact the you charge 75 cents for this is why nobody buys it. The content and quality has faded fast like education in this state. KW Hurley

Anonymous said...

He was in the production of Lion Witch and the Wardrobe @ the Children's Theatre.. a big hit!

Anonymous said...

My only disappointment is that Nick wasn't wearing cow print boxers.

Alicia

Anonymous said...

Clean G-rated humor is a gift. Seems to me that Nick is gifted.

Alicia

Anonymous said...

"A white male got an internship at NPR?"

Well, he likes theatre.

I'm sure that counts.

Anonymous said...

Ann

Find out about REAL answers.

How many years have CMS principals spent in the classroom teaching. How many receive the "GRADUATION" bonus. What is the total and total money spent on the "Market Adjustment" salaries?

This kid is not NEWS.

Anonymous said...

I would tend to agree with the previous post, this is not news worthy material.

Anonymous said...

In Charlotte the only job to get rich is preachers and politicians.