UW-Eau Claire is pleased to announce John and Carolyn Sonnentag will receive honorary doctorate of science degrees at the May 16 commencement ceremony in a building that bears their name, the Sonnentag Center. The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved the conferral of the honorary doctorate degrees at its March meeting.
“John and Carolyn’s honorary degrees are a celebration of their lifelong commitment to UW-Eau Claire, our students and the future of our region,” says Dr. Michael Carney, interim chancellor of UW-Eau Claire.
“These honorary degrees recognize their positive impact on our community, their excellence in the field of manufacturing and infrastructure innovation and their humble leadership of a family business that has impacted so many communities around the country.”
Long history of business leadership, excellence and generosity
John and Carolyn Sonnentag graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1966 and 1967, respectively, John with degrees in business administration and history, and Carolyn with a degree in medical technology. Married before graduation, their next 50 years together were dedicated to raising their children and building the family concrete business, with John as CEO and chair of the board for those years.
Under John’s leadership, County Concrete, later named County Materials, grew from one location in 1971 to multiple locations across six states with more than 2,000 employees. In 1988, they founded the Sonnentag American Foundation which serves various urgent needs of community members in the cities and towns that are home to County Materials facilities.
Today, County Materials has more than 30 locations nationwide, and the Sonnentag American Foundation has raised $4.4 million for local nonprofits in those communities. In 2024, John and Carolyn were recognized as Champions of Business by Junior Achievement of Wisconsin.
The Sonnentags first captured the hearts of Blugolds past and present with their love story and passion for UW-Eau Claire, shared amid the announcement of their first major gift of cash and land from the 25-acre County Materials Corp. site in 2014.
A $10 million value at that time, that initial gift became part of a total gift of $70 million announced in 2021 to create the current County Materials Complex. The Sonnentags’ gift is the largest in university history and among the largest in the country ever given to a regional public university. The total gift placed John and Carolyn at No. 39 on the 2021 list of Top 50 Philanthropic Donors in the U.S., according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
The Sonnentags also were honored by the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association with their 2015 Lifetime Excellence Award. This award was presented in connection with fall commencement ceremonies, at which John delivered the “Charge to the Class.”
Two dedicated Blugolds, one big dream and a spectacular legacy
Over a decade in the making, The Sonnentag facility officially opened its doors on Sept. 12, 2024. The $112 million, 225,900-square-foot facility includes the Sonnentag Event Center, the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Center for Health and Wellbeing and the Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Center.
The Sonnentag has received gold-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for its emphasis on environmental sustainability and its WELL Health-Safety Rating. It is the largest LEED V4 gold-certified facility of its type in Wisconsin and Minnesota and the third largest in the Midwest at the time of its grand opening, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. UW-Eau Claire students voted to financially support the LEED certification and to provide ongoing operation fees of The Sonnentag with student segregated fees.
Transformative gifts to academics, athletics and student life
Beyond the show-stopping fieldhouse, event center and athletic team facilities of The Sonnentag, it must be noted that John and Carolyn’s philanthropy over the years also strongly supported student scholarships, faculty development and other capital improvements at UW-Eau Claire.
Dr. Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, is unambiguous about the overall impact the Sonnentags have had at UW-Eau Claire.
“John and Carolyn Sonnentag’s generosity and dedication ensures that future generations of Blugolds have opportunities to learn, lead and serve. Their longstanding engagement with the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and the community has inspired others to invest in the university’s mission of fostering creativity, critical insight, empathy and intellectual courage,” Sternfeld-Dunn says.
The facility, located along the Chippewa River, is home to Blugold basketball, volleyball, football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball.
“John and Carolyn Sonnentag have shaped the trajectory of UW-Eau Claire in ways that will resonate for generations,” says Jason Verdugo, director of athletics at UW-Eau Claire. “Their extraordinary generosity, their belief in the power of this institution and their unwavering commitment to our students have fundamentally elevated what UWEC can aspire to be. It is profoundly fitting that they are being recognized with an honorary degree — a full‑circle moment for two individuals whose lives were deeply influenced by this university.
“UW-Eau Claire may have played a role in their story, but their impact on the present and future of this institution is truly immeasurable.”
