With a good-luck-charm bracelet dangling from her wrist, and the careful-but-certain spelling of "scenario," Kaylie Bengston, 12, won the Area Seven Spelling Bee competition Friday at Chaparral Middle School in Moorpark.

It was the first time the seventh-grader, a student at Chaparral, had competed in a regional spelling bee.

"I've always been a really good speller, but when I competed at my school bee in fifth grade, I got nervous and messed up, so I didn't make it this far," Kaylie said. "Maybe wearing the bracelet helped."

Her beaded bracelet was a handmade gift from one of her best friends, Nadia Rizk, 12, who was at the competition to lend support. "I told Kaylie it would bring her good luck. She works really hard, and I'm thrilled for her," Nadia said.

Watching her daughter compete and win was overwhelming, said Stephanie Bengston, Kaylie's mother. "She has such poise and confidence. I couldn't be more proud," she said.

Jeff Bengston, Kaylie's father, said she prepared for the competition with focus and commitment. "She's very self-motivated. We helped her a little, but she studies and does the work pretty much on her own," he said.

This year, students from more than 160 local schools are participating in spelling bees, which are sponsored by the Ventura County Star, County Schools Federal Credit Union and county Office of Education. School winners move on to one of 10 area competitions.

Winners of the area competitions will vie in the county finals March 10 at CSU Channel Islands in Camarillo. The countywide winner will go on to the 81st annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 2930 in Washington, D.C. Scripps is the parent company of The Star.

Nine students from public and private schools in Moorpark, Simi Valley and Oak Park competed Friday. Most had never advanced to an area spelling bee before.

Kevin Lu, 10, a fifth-grader at Red Oak School in Oak Park, was the alternate winner. He lost in the eighth round by misspelling "patriarch." Kevin will compete in the county finals if Kaylie cannot.

"Words come from so many different languages — it's a challenge and fun to figure out how to spell them," said Kevin, who was disappointed to come in second but will compete again next year.

Kiana Overby, a sixth-grader at Mesa Verde Middle School in Moorpark, lost in the sixth round by forgetting the "r" in "croquet." An avid reader, she said French words are her favorites. "There's no other language like it," she said.

Nicolo Zulaybar, 11, a sixth-grader at St. Rose of Lima School in Simi Valley, said he was excited and nervous Friday.

"I'm representing my school, so I really want to do well," said Nicolo, who made it to the sixth round before misspelling "plateau."

The regional bee is always an exciting, nerve-racking experience for participants, said Debbie Kolibas, who coordinates the bee for the Moorpark Unified School District.

"My heart goes out to all of them. Every one of them has achieved something special by winning at their schools and competing at the area level," Kolibas said.