HOLYOKE, Mass. - A $18 million scholarship announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration will allow nursing students enrolled right now to attend community college for free this year.

Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler says the goal of the new program is to create more affordable opportunities in education for nursing students to address the high demand for medical professionals in the workforce.

"By creating more opportunities for equitable access to nursing and other STEM fields, we can grow the workforce of tomorrow at a rate that actually meets the needs of Massachusetts residents," Tutwiler said.

Second-year nursing student Katelynn Richard is a mom of three and said she's had to put her pursuit of higher education on hold for several years due to the responsibilities of being a parent along with the high cost. Now a recipient of the new scholarship, it's a big relief for her academic dreams.

"Having to worry about paying your bills, and also making sure your college is paid for so you don't get dropped out of a program that you're so passionate about, it was stressful," Richard said. "And now that we just go granted this amazing opportunity, it takes a whole weight so we can just focus on our college and making sure that we get the best education that we can."

On Tuesday, Tutwiler along with Commissioner of Public Health Robbie Goldstein were given a tour of the Center of Health Education and Simulation at Holyoke Community College.

The facility itself opened in 2015, and includes four private patient simulation rooms, three control rooms, two debriefing rooms, and even a few large multi-bed lab spaces which can be transformed into acute care or community environments.

State Sen. Joanne Comerford said there are many medical facilities struggling with nursing shortages so it's important to create opportunities for student nurses to get their education so they can give back to their communities.

"Mindful of the latest survey by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, which shows that western Massachusetts has the second highest number of people currently housed in hospitals awaiting nursing home beds to become available," Comerford said. "That's second only to the Boston Metro area and that's all connected to a workforce shortage."

"I have to provide for my family," Richard said. "But I am also able to fill roles as a nurse to make sure that other individuals can get home to there family. So it is huge thing on both sides which I'm really excited about."