This special award was presented to her by Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier.

Jutta Sonnenberg has volunteered for many years in the social sector, in the Protestant church, in sport and for families.

Combined with her many years as a lawyer at the Technical University of Braunschweig, supporting students was particularly close to her heart. For example, she was very involved in setting up the Braunschweig Citizens' Prize Foundation for outstanding student achievements and was a member of its board from 1996 to 2016. She was also a member of an association for the administration of a student hall of residence. From 2008 to 2024, she was a member - and since 2011 also a board member - of the association TUBS und Familie e.V. to improve family friendliness at TU Braunschweig. In addition, Ms. Sonnenberg performs tasks in church committees. In the parish of St. Jacobi in Reppner, she worked on the church board from 2006 to 2024 and has been a member of the Lebenstedt provost synod as well as the provost board and the provost association board since 2019. In these voluntary roles, she helped shape the merger of the two provostries, for example. She is also active in the field of sport on a voluntary basis and has been chairwoman of the Reppner gymnastics club for eight years.

At the presentation of the Medal of Merit, which took place in the town hall in Lebenstedt, Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel was delighted to say: "Jutta Sonnenberg has been and remains extremely active throughout her life and has been able to achieve a great deal with her voluntary work. Sport, the Christian faith and her fellow human beings were and are at the center of her life. Her faith and charity have always been a moral compass and support for her, giving her strength and a zest for life. I was particularly impressed by her long membership of the church council of the parish of St. Jacobi Reppner and her commitment to the Salzgitter-Lebenstedt provostry. She has left a deep mark with her diverse voluntary work. Our city and our society thrive on people like Jutta Sonnenberg, who want to shape things and help their fellow human beings."

Jutta Sonnenberg was visibly moved at the presentation of the Order of Merit and emphasized: "I am particularly pleased that so many people have contributed to or supported the Order of Merit in order to show me their appreciation. I would like to express my sincere thanks for this. Incidentally, I have always enjoyed my voluntary work very much. Being there for other people has always given me a lot myself. In this respect, I would like to encourage others to work for the community according to their talents and interests."