Alyssa Medd knows her jargon.

The Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School seventh-grader correctly spelled "jargon" in the final round last night to capture the Kaua'i District Spelling Bee.

Medd outlasted 12 other students in 12 rounds of spelling to win the title of Kaua'i's best speller. She is the daughter of Roger and Kim Medd.

The 12-year-old won the crown after Charlie Kahepuu of Waimea Canyon School misspelled "gizzard."

Both Medd and Kahepuu will move on to the state spelling bee in March in Honolulu.

Spelling champions from 84 schools will compete in seven district spelling bees through February. The winner and runnerup from each district bee will qualify for The Honolulu Advertiser's 24th Hawaii State Spelling Bee, set for March 15 at Windward Community College's Paliku Theatre.

The state champion will receive a trip for two to Washington, D.C., and represent Hawai'i in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. The winner also will be awarded a $100 U.S. savings bond from Jay Sugarman.

The national bee will award prizes ranging from $50 to $12,000.

The 2009 schedule of district spelling bees, and district qualifiers for the state bee: