Maumelle Charter High School student overcomes cancer, becomes National Merit finalist

MAUMELLE, Ark.- Graduation is now less than a month away for many high school seniors, but at Maumelle Charter High, one senior is looking far beyond the stage and into her future.

At 18 years old, Annika Pecanty is preparing to grace the stage and leave her mark on many despite a fight with leukemia.

“I had cancer, and I was gone for six months. Caught up thankfully and I was able to keep going,” Pecanty said.

She’s used her four years to build special relationships with students and teachers, leading clubs like the Mental Health Awareness Association and Maumelle Charter’s Crochet Club.

She is also a member of the MCHS soccer team and has held leadership positions in Beta and the National Honor Society. Her teacher Lakeia Lovelace said she knew Pecanty was destined for greatness.

“I just pray for her success because she is going to make a difference,” Lovelace said.

Pecanty said for a while her fight with cancer became her identity, so she pushed to become valedictorian to establish herself as something more.

“I’m captain of the quiz bowl team and the secretary for student government,” Pecanty said.

And as she prepares for the next step in her life, she said she’s proud she’s helped people along the way saying, “success and progress is definitely not a straight line it’s overall, so if today is hard that’s ok as long as you’re doing your best.”

She said she’ll be taking the special relationships built with her throughout her journey.

“She’s going to look back, her peers are going to be able to look back, her coaches are going to look back and say, ‘I remember that young lady,’” Lovelace said.

In March, Maumelle Charter High School announced that Pecanty had been named a National Merit finalist.

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