Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) with locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon has announced the receipt of a major charitable gift from Brad and Jeanine Berrong of Weatherford, Oklahoma.
The Berrongs’ donation benefits the SWOSU Piano program within the SWOSU Department of Music and was made in conjunction with the recently announced SWOSU Piano Campaign which aims to assist the university in purchasing new pianos.
“We are deeply grateful to our alumni and longtime benefactors, Brad and Jeanine Berrong, for this latest generous investment in SWOSU,” said SWOSU President Dr. Diana “Diane” Lovell. “Brad and Jeanine’s gift will help us to acquire new instruments for our SWOSU Piano students which will make a huge difference in learning quality and will also enhance SWOSU’s community outreach efforts.”
Brad Berrong is a 1975 SWOSU graduate and a 2013 SWOSU Distinguished Alumnus. Jeanine Miller Berrong graduated from SWOSU with her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1976 and was a SWOSU music graduate assistant until she finished her Master of Education (with music emphasis) degree in 1978. She taught part-time in the SWOSU Music Department for a short time until she and Brad started their family. In 2013, she received the Governor’s Arts in Education Award.
“While working on my Masters,” Jeanine says, “I was fortunate and honored to study piano with the late Dr. James Breckenridge. I know this campaign would bring a big smile to Dr. Breckenridge’s face, and I just want to encourage my fellow SWOSU music graduates to donate to this worthy endeavor which will benefit not only piano students but all future music students.”
Brad and Jeanine are the proud parents of Jeff and Michael, and the proud grandparents of Jeff and Jill’s son, Jack.
The Berrongs have served and led numerous organizations including the Weatherford Arts Council, the Weatherford Public Schools Foundation, the Weatherford Rotary Club, the Weatherford Regional Hospital Board, the WRH Foundation Board, the Great Plains Family YMCA, the Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma, and Chapter FG of P.E.O. They are longtime members of the First United Methodist Church in Weatherford. The Berrongs have worked in their family business, Berrong Insurance, for half a century.
“SWOSU’s Music Department and Piano program enrich Western Oklahoma’s cultural life immensely,” said the Berrongs. “We are proud to support the arts and we encourage others to join us in this very worthy cause.”
The SWOSU Piano Campaign aims to raise enough funds to purchase three new Steinway concert pianos as well as eleven new practice pianos.
The SWOSU Department of Music is a quality program offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate disciplines including instrumental music, vocal music, and music therapy. Students from around the globe come to SWOSU specifically to study music.
To learn more or to make a charitable contribution towards the SWOSU Piano Campaign, visit www.SWOSUPianos.com or contact Taylor Adler, at taylor.adler@swosu.edu, or 580-774-6331.