Ashlynn Gallagher, a student at W.F. West High School, is shown at the school’s cell culture room. Gallagher earlier this year earned an all-expenses-paid trip to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair May 14-19 in Los Angeles.
Ashlynn Gallagher, left, and Kate Amrine, both students at W.F. West High School, set up plates for testing at BioTech Day at Centralia High School in October 2016.
Ashlynn Gallagher
In this March 23, 2017, file photo, Ashlynn Gallagher, left, and Kate Amrine set up plates for testing at BioTech Day at Centralia High School.
A W.F. West High School senior and Running Start student was recently named the 2017 Young Woman of Achievement for her participation in areas focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Along with the award, Ashlynn Gallagher will receive the 2017 Mary P. Dolciani Young Woman of Achievement Scholarship, which provides support to young women who have the capability and interest to pursue a college major and career in STEM.
Gallagher was selected for the award by the Young Women’s Christian Association after she took part in courses and activities “that have been shown to have more male participants than female.”
She has been involved with the robotics club, STEM club and advanced scientific research courses.
This summer, Gallagher was enrolled in two classes at Centralia College, and took part in two independent studies. She is also active in her community and her school by advocating for girls in STEM, according to the press release.
“Ashlynn wants to stop sexism and racism within not only her school, but the world around us, to show that STEM is not a male or white dominated career, but is for anyone and everyone,” stated the press release.
When Gallagher originally joined the robotics club, she said she saw girls who were judged on their gender instead of the work they completed.
“At first, I was confused because as I was doing my own work, I kept trying to see what other girls were doing wrong that was caused unwarranted feedback,” she said. “As time went on, I experienced name calling, judgment, was not allowed to work on the robot, and I noticed that the boys were given positive feedback and their mistakes were left unnoticed. I found it ironic that although my robotics team was trying to recruit more girls to build an awareness for girls in STEM, they were blocking the girls on their team from actually getting hands-on experience in STEM.”
In her free time, Gallagher who is described as “deeply curious about the universe… and space travel,” has researched the effects of cancer treatments in correlation to apoptotic gene noxa and a tumor suppressor gene on zebrafish embryos to develop research on cancer treatments in her high school.
She won first place overall this year at the South Sound Regional Science and Engineering Fair, which later allowed her to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
She plans to major in biomedical engineering with a minor in math. Gallagher would like to get her Ph.D. and open her own research lab, according to the press release.
“I want to help my family, friends, and the world,” she said. “I see STEM as a way to help the world and fix the problems we are facing today and the problems we will face in the future. I plan pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering so that I can acquire the skills that can help not only my family, but my friends, and possibly the world.”
Gallagher will be honored at the Annual Women of Achievement Celebration on Friday, Nov. 10 at the Washington Center for Performing Arts. Ticket information can be found online at www.ywcaofolympia.org.
