More than 30 years since first enrolling as an undergraduate at Avondale, Paul Rankin will become the second student to graduate with a PhD - but the first to begin and end the award at the college.

Son Caleb will receive an undergraduate award - a Bachelor of Environmental Science - and youngest daughter Rachel a vocational education and training award - a Diploma in Outdoor Recreation.

Paul first visited the Lake Macquarie campus as a six-year-old in 1963.

Four years later, his father Ian graduated from the theology course.

Paul returned in 1980, also as a theology student. He helped establish what is now the Avondale Students' Association and served as its first president before graduating in 1983.

These experiences and the opportunity to study with one of his "great mates", fellow hang-gliding enthusiast and supervisor Dr Darren Morton, brought Paul back to Avondale.

His children have also benefited from this level of care and encouragement.

"The support Avondale's given to us has impressed me," Mr Rankin said.

Some of Caleb's lecturers worked out of hours to mentor him throughout his course.

Now, Caleb's academic achievements have enabled him to consider applying for an honours degree.

Classmates of Rachel, 18, who enrolled after completing year 10, "almost adopted her as a younger sister," Mr Rankin said.

Paul, Caleb and Rachel are three of the 264 graduands eligible to march into the Chan Shun Auditorium during the graduation service on Sunday.

The class of 2014 includes the first graduands from the Master of Teaching course.