Brittany Hull, a first-generation student from Litchfield, always wanted to earn a college degree and become a nurse. In pursuit of that dream, she also became a standout student leader.

“School has always been a big thing for me,” said Hull, who watched how hard her mom worked without the advantage of a high school diploma. “I knew I didn’t want to live paycheck-to-paycheck. And I wanted to be a good influence on my younger siblings.”

In April, she received the Presidents’ Student Leadership Award from Minnesota Campus Compact, an association that promotes civic engagement and democratic renewal within it 37-member colleges. The award was presented at a St. Paul banquet with her mom in attendance.

“My mom cried,” Hull said.

She graduated in May with a nursing degree and a minor in Spanish.

Hull served on the BSU Student Senate, her senior year as president. She has been a member of the Minnesota State University Student Association, vice president of the BSU Lifestyle Educators and public relations chair of the Students Nurses’ Association.

During her Senate tenure, she helped pass several bills, including one to improve BSU’s grading system and another to provide students with access to a 24-hour computer lab. She also lobbied lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on issues related to higher education.

And beginning last year, when one of her fellow nursing students died of hypothermia after getting lost on her way home from a party, Hull did everything in her power to make sure something like that never happens again.

She helped create two videos to address the negative impact of risky behaviors related to drug and alcohol use among college students. And she was a driving force behind a campus-wide campaign, handing out wristbands to encourage students to be safe and look out for one another.

“Brittany has done a remarkable job,” said Dr. Mary Ward, BSU dean of students, who nominated Hull for the leadership award. “I cannot say enough about her effort and the passion she has for BSU and our students.”

Hull figures it’s all good experience for nursing, a profession she that said needs “good leaders and advocates.”

For her, the best measure of success is the positive influence her BSU experience has had on her 10-year-old sister and 15-year-old brother, who also plan to attend college. Plus, she admits it feels good to have “a very proud mom.”