Cassandra Hurtienne has been awarded the 2018 Karen Kvalo Deehr Memorial Scholarship from Holy Family Memorial. The scholarship is awarded annually to an HFM employee pursuing an advanced degree in a health care-related field.
Hurtienne began her career with HFM in 2009 and is a lab technician at HFM Medical Center. She is currently attending Northern Michigan University in pursuit of her bachelor of science in clinical laboratory to become a medical technologist.
The scholarship was established in honor of Karen Kvalo Deehr by her husband, Judge Allan Deehr, and Karen’s parents, Arnold and Harriet Kvalo. Karen was the director of HFM’s Home Health and Hospice Department from 1986 through 1995; and earned her bachelor’s degree in health care administration one month prior to death. Karen’s family had a high regard for education and established the scholarship to encourage employees of Holy Family Memorial to pursue or continue their education just as Karen Deehr did.