Camp Fire Celebrated 5th Graduation of Early Education Apprenticeship Program
Event honored 84 graduates and five years of workforce impact; program named 2025 Workforce Champion of the Year
Camp Fire First Texas hosted a milestone graduation ceremony on Saturday, August 16, 2025, to honor the fifth graduating class of the Camp Fire Early Education Apprenticeship Program (EEAP). The event, themed “Honoring Our Journey: 5 Years in 2025,” recognized 84 graduates—the program’s largest and most diverse class yet—and celebrated five years of workforce development in early childhood education.
The ceremony took place at Northwest ISD’s Eaton High School Student Union in Haslet, Texas.
“This class represents the future of early education,” said Yolanda Willis, Camp Fire’s Director of Early Education Apprenticeship. “They’ve balanced work, coursework, and family life while advancing their skills and impact in the classroom. It’s a joy to celebrate not only their success, but also the continued evolution of a program that began just five years ago with only three graduates.”
The Early Education Apprenticeship Program is a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship that combines paid on-the-job learning with coaching, college coursework, and professional mentoring. The program provides a no-cost, high-quality career pathway for early childhood professionals—many of whom are women of color—and awards a nationally recognized, non-expiring certificate upon completion.
The growth of the program has been steady and intentional—from just three graduates in its inaugural 2021 class, to 20 in 2022, 34 in 2023, 58 in 2024, and now 84 in 2025. “Each class has brought something unique,” Willis added. “They’ve helped us build, refine, and expand. Together, they’ve walked with purpose, demonstrated resilience, and proven that the apprenticeship model works.”
Camp Fire was recently named the 2025 Workforce Champion of the Year, recognizing the program’s innovation, equity, and impact on the early education workforce in Texas.
Graduation day included remarks from Commissioner Alberto Treviño III, Commissioner Representing Labor for the Texas Workforce Commission, along with leaders from funding partner organizations. A video retrospective highlighted five years of growth and stories from across the apprenticeship journey. Each graduate will be recognized individually during a formal certificate presentation and tassel-turning ceremony.
Brian Miller, President/ CEO of Camp Fire First Texas, said the event is more than a ceremony—it’s a moment to reflect on what’s possible when workforce systems invest in people.
“These apprentices have balanced work, study, and family responsibilities—all while pouring their hearts into the children and classrooms they serve,” Miller said. “They are not only the future of early learning in Texas—they are already shaping it. We are proud to walk beside them. EEAP is about changing lives, not just building résumés.”
Camp Fire First Texas continues to lead statewide efforts in early childhood workforce development, advocating for quality education, livable wages, and equitable career pathways for early educators.
The event was attended by graduates, their families, host site directors, Camp Fire partners, and members of the community. A reception will follow the ceremony.
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