BEND, OR -- A Mountain View High senior is the overall winner for the Second Congressional District, in the 2016 Congressional Art Competition. Sage Hassell's acrylic painting "Flaunt It," depicting a girl spinning in a white dress, was selected by local judges from among a number of submissions. Hassell tells KBND News, "I was so excited, I couldn't even believe it actually happened. I knew someone several years ago that won the award; I never imagined that I would get it."

The Bend teen will travel to Washington, D.C. for a reception, June 23, and her winning piece will hang at the National Student Art Exhibit in the U.S. Capitol. "I started doing art in middle school and I've just taken it as an elective ever since. I guess my passion has grown exponentially with each year. My art teachers have been a huge influence. I would love to intertwine it into my future - I know I want to go into education. I've been thinking about math, but if I could be an art teacher also, or go back and forth, that would be incredible." Hassell plans to attend Brigham Young University in the fall. 

Judges also chose winners from the nine counties within the Second District; that artwork will be displayed at Walden's district offices in Bend, Medford, La Grande and Hood River.