A Madison middle-schooler is honored by her classmates Monday.

14-year-old Isabel Jacobson can spell words most of us have never heard.

The 8th grader came one word short of becoming the best speller in the country.

Last week she placed third in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Isabel says, "It was like the big finale, but I wasn't nervous."

Isabel's spelling success ... seen live on TV ... is the talk of O'Keefe Middle School.

Monday... students welcomed home their prized-speller.

They gave Isabel a special bracelet that spells out her talent.

Isabel says, "It's great to know they were cheering for me."

A classmate even wrote a song about her knack for words.

The young whiz outlasted 283 contestants ... advancing to the 9th round.

It wasn't her first time in front of the mic. Isabel placed 14th in last year's competition. This, however, was her final appearance.

"I was just so excited to try to do as well as I could and I seriously didn't care if I got out."

Isabel won more than $4,000.

And forever defined herself as a W-I-N-N-E-R.

Isabel's third-place finish is the best for a Wisconsin speller since 1991 when a Clintonville girl won it all.