Stephanie Higgins Bealing '04, president of Replacement Lens Express, won the HYPE (Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs) Entrepreneurship Award in the New Business Launch category, which recognizes businesses begun after Jan. 1, 2009. Nominees for the award are judged on their contribution to the Greater Hartford Region. Replacement Lens Express provides customers with prescription eyeglass lenses through online service. The company is also partnered with New Eyes for the Needy and is dedicated to recycling unwanted glasses.

At Hamilton, Bealing majored in physics and was a member of Kappa Sigma Alpha. She spent a semester abroad in London. Bealing went on to earn a master's degree in materials science and engineering at the University of Connecticut and a master's of business administration from Carnegie Mellon University. She has worked for Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems, UTC Power, and Carrier Corporation.