Ron Rader is the Alva Educator of the Year. He was presented with the award Feb. 10 at the 5th Annual Citizens Choice Awards Gala sponsored by the Alva Chamber of Commerce.

Rader was born and raised in northwest Oklahoma. He attended Shattuck Public Schools through 10th grade and then finished his high school education at Freedom Public Schools where he was involved in many school and community activities.

Rader graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in 1989 and then enrolled in the Automotive Service Program at Northwest Technology Center where he completed training that led him into the automotive industry as well as inspiring him to one day consider teaching others the trade.

He and his wife Teresa moved to Weslaco, Texas, in 1991 where he worked in a Chrysler dealership and attained the level of Chrysler Certified Master Technician as well as ASE Certified Master Technician. Rader and his family moved back to Alva in 1999 to begin his career in the field of education and to raise their children, Brandy and Cody, in peaceful northwest Oklahoma.

He has been the Automotive Service Technology Instructor at Northwest Technology Center for 20 years and continues to enjoy the challenges and successes of working with the youth of today while helping prepare them for their future endeavors.