AHS students earn college biology credits

Five Vermilion Parish students will not have to take freshman biology their first semester because they passed a year-long advanced placement biology class taught at Abbeville High School this past school year.
The biology class, which was two hours long, five days a week, was a college course taught by Abbeville High science teacher Christina Menard.
At the end of the school year, students took a college level test. The test was graded by college professors. The students were given a grade between a five (the best) to a one (failed).
The five students earned a total of 36 hours of biology credit which is accepted at most universities around the state as well the United States. The free college credit hours earned will save the students just under $5,000 in tuition.
Earning the credits were Abbeville 2008 graduates Jared Baudoin, Edward Burleson, Ashley Mudd, John Nguyen and Thu Ha Nguyen.
All five recently found out they passed their big biology exam.
“The class was challenging,” said John, who will major in chemical engineering at UL-L. “Christina is a very good teacher, which made you want to learn.”
Baudoin will be majoring in Nursing at UL-L.
“I took the class because Mrs. Menard was a good chemistry teacher, and I also wanted to prepare myself for college. The class was challenging but it paid off because I earned college credits.”
Thu Ha Nguyen is majoring in biology at LSU. She still plans to take all of her biologies despite passing the class.
“It was hard if you wanted it to be, but was also easy if you wanted it to be,” said Thu Ha Nguyen.
Burleson was so inspired by Menard and how she taught biology that he plans to major in biology at Langston University in Oklahoma.
“After taking the class, it really interested me,” Burleson said. “I took the biology class because of chemistry. Mrs. Menard talked me into it. I have no regrets.”
He said he is glad to know that a good biology foundation was in place when he goes to college this month.
Ashley Mudd is going to LSU but has not decided on a major. “I am glad I took it,” Mudd said. “Some of the class was really hard. I got frustrated when it got hard. She (Mrs. Menard) made the difference. She made it fun.”
This was the third year Menard taught the class. The class is open to all seniors who have taken chemistry.