Charles Lupton Volunteer Award presented to Priscilla Hamilton

ERIE, Pa. — Retired U.S. Army Col. Priscilla Hamilton, a Penn State Alumni Fellow and a member of Penn State Behrend’s Council of Fellows, recently received the Charles Lupton Volunteer Award, one of the University’s highest honors for a volunteer.

The Lupton award recognizes outstanding volunteer service to Penn State and the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, as well as service to civic, business or social service organizations in the greater community.

“Priscilla exemplifies the true meaning of giving back,” said Ralph Ford, Behrend chancellor. “She leads by example and never hesitates to encourage others to find a way to help a cause or organization, especially those that are tied to Penn State. We are fortunate that Behrend is at the top of her list.”

Hamilton attended Behrend for two years before graduating with a bachelor of arts in science at University Park in 1978. She holds a doctoral degree in dental medicine from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s in health care administration from Baylor University and a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

While at Behrend, she helped to establish the college’s ROTC program. She later became Penn State’s first female cadet brigade commander.

Hamilton is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, where she served with the 257th Medical Detachment and the 5th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. She went on to lead the U.S. Army’s dental care system, DENCOM, which is responsible for all Army oral health care and dental clinics around the world. At the time, DENCOM operated nearly 150 dental clinics, employing more than 5,000 dentists, hygienists and dental assistants.

Her final military assignment was as the chief of graduate dental education and dean of the Army Postgraduate Dental School.

Now retired, and a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association, Hamilton said she considers herself a “professional” volunteer. In addition to her work at Behrend, she is an active member of the Penn State Extension’s Master Gardener program and the Veterans Affairs Hospice Quilters and is an ordained elder at her church. She and her husband, Gary, are members of S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie and the Harborcreek Historical Society.

“Priscilla is always willing to offer a helping hand,” said Britt Daehnke, interim director of development and alumni relations at Behrend. “She is particularly engaged in her support of Penn State, as she believes it reinforces her own gratitude for her education.”

Hamilton also is a beekeeper. She mentors new beekeepers through the Hives for Heroes program, a national nonprofit organization focused on supporting military members in a healthy transition from service.

“Life is rewarding,” she said. “I am fortunate to have the flexibility to give back to my community, especially my beloved Behrend community, in many different ways.”