Spelling bees can be nerve wracking for participants but they can also be a fun way for kids to increase their knowledge about words and how to spell them.Parent Ana Rawlek was disappointed that more students from Williams Lake didn’t participate in the Kamloops Daily News Canspell Regional Spelling Bee held at Thompson Rivers University Saturday and encourages more parents to involve their children in spelling bee events.She says her daughter Monica Rawlek Elizondo, a Grade 7 student from Kwaleen elementary, and Colten Brillant, a Grade 7 student from Cataline elementary, were the only two participants from Williams Lake. “My intention is to motivate more children from Williams Lake to register at the spelling bees,” Rawlek says.“Williams Lake had just two students representing this city, which, considering all the elementary schools we have in town is a really small number. It was a really fun and well organize event.” Monica finished 13th overall in Kamloops out of a field of 33 competitors, which her principal John Silkstone applauds. He says it is very difficult for students to make it into the top 15 in the regional spelling bee.Cataline Learning support teacher Rae Perry, who has attended the regional spelling bee for the past four years to cheer on the lakecity competitors, was also impressed with Colten’s work to make it to the regional finals.She says Colten has competed in the Cataline spelling bee every year for the past four years and this year won the school challenge to make it into the regional finals. While he was knocked out in the second round, she says the fact that he made it to Kamloops shows that perseverance really does pay off.In some ways she says spelling is a very small part of what school is all about, but for some students who may not enjoy sports spelling bees provide an alternative extra curricular activity where they can shine.The Kamloops Daily News Canspell Regional Spelling Bee was held Saturday, Feb. 19 at Thompson Rivers University. Graham Abraham, 12 of Lloyd George school won the regional Canspell Trophy with his final word “visualize.”Top prize, courtesy of Egg Farmers of Canada, was a $5,000 Canspell Education Award and a Sony e-reader from Best Buy.The winning speller also earns a trip to Toronto March 23-28 to take part in the Postmedia Canspell National Spelling Bee.