It's almost time to bring out the black caps and gowns, with thousands of students set to graduate from the University of the Sunshine Coast this April.

With a diverse professional background including a languages degree in Vietnam and a decade co-owning a business servicing earthworks and mining sectors in Australia, Ruth Duong decided on a career change.

More than 700 excited graduating students committed to a better future for themselves, their communities and beyond are celebrating at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s spring graduation.

It started with a niggling feeling he wanted to do more with his life and led to former Hervey Bay retail worker Tim Byford being awarded the University of the Sunshine Coast’s highest academic honour.

University of the Sunshine Coast’s Chancellor’s Medallist Kristy Benson has proven she likes to defy expectations, even her own.