ROYAL CITY - There are about 15 Guadarrama brothers, sisters and cousins who have passed, or are passing through the Royal school system with high academic achievement and civic involvement.

Finding her place in that family legacy the past two years is sophomore Karen Guadarrama. She is in Honor Society and is one of two ambassadors for the Upward Bound Program at Royal High. Among the people not surprised is Principal Jack Hill.

"They've all been great kids," he said. "They get involved. Abraham (Karen's cousin) was the ASB president last year."

Abraham was a leader in Royal's highly successful robotics program. He is now studying at the University of Washington. Another of Karen's cousins, Veronica, studies at Central Washington University.

Among other things, Karen's family is known as the Reading Guadarramas. You'll find them in books as often as not.

"I guess we want to learn," she said.

Karen has been in the Royal system since kindergarten. She applied for Upward Bound, which assists students with college plans, as a freshman and was accepted.

Karen went to the Upward Bound 2011 summer school at Big Bend Community College and took intense 2.5-hour-a-day courses in Algebra II, Honors English and Spanish. She also attended a two-hour study hall.

"I got an A for the quarter (back at school) in Algebra II because I knew everything that was taught at Upward Bound," she said.

Sadly, Karen said, there may not be an Upward Bound next year. It is federally funded every five years, and it's grant application time. With the country in economic struggle, she's been told the Royal program may be ended.

Karen already feels the budget pinch. Her cousins Stefhany (a senior) and Eric (a junior) were paid a stipend as ambassadors. She is not being paid. However, her work is being honored as community service.

As an Upward Bound ambassador (the other is Diana Santacruz), Karen communicates messages from BBCC headquarters to Upward Bound participants at the school. She also acts as a tutor for other members.

There are 19 students in the Royal Upward Bound group. Five - Eric, Jackie, Antonio, Stefhany and Karen - are Guadarramas. Karen put together a 3.40 grade point average last year. Her lowest grade this year has been an A.

As ambassadors, Karen and Santacruz are responsible for a monthly newsletter to the participants. They are in continual contact with program director Anita DeLeon, schools coordinator Sue Workman and academic advisor Katya Kozlov at BBCC.

Another duty for Karen and Santacruz is planning and conducting at least three community service projects. Upward Bound students put up a Christmas Tree at the clinic and sold "Pictures with Santa" at Harvest Foods to raise funds for community needs.

Royal's Upward Bound students meet after school in Dr. Eric Carlson's classroom. Among other things, he is a tutor for them. The students are paid a $15-a-month stipend for maintaining good grades.