But many graduands and staff wore the "unusual fashion" accessories yesterday as a tribute to their fellow student, the late Jock Davies, who was tragically killed in a hunting accident on Stewart Island in July last year.
The Tapanui 21-year-old was in his final year of a bachelor of applied science degree and was infamous among his cohort for wearing the great outdoors footwear to his lectures.
At a special pre-graduation ceremony for Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health students at the Sargood Centre yesterday, Mr Davies’ degree was given posthumously to his family.
His father Peter said it was a "very emotional" moment which celebrated all the hard work he had done on his degree.
"He was hoping to go to teachers’ college in Christchurch next year, and go into teaching physical education."
He was delighted to see so many people wearing his son’s favourite forms of footwear.
"He was normally in Birks, or he would be in Red Bands, or his RNs, unless he was out running usually.
"That was Jock though — just because they were comfortable and easy to slip on."
He was diagnosed with the cancer in 2013, and he relapsed in 2018 before getting a bone marrow transplant, which effectively cured him.
"Every time, it was a sport of some sort that he concentrated on, to get back — so cricket the first time was his big thing, then rugby the second time."
So it was not surprising when his son said he wanted to become a PE teacher, he said.
The battles his son fought made him an inspiration to others around him.
The fact he had been freed of leukaemia and had his life back on track made his death from a hunting accident difficult to come to terms with, he said.
"Every day’s hard.
"But it is nice to be able to celebrate this today, because he would have definitely got here."
Institute of Sport Exercise and Health head Brendon Timmins said losing Mr Davies created "a massive void", especially for his classmates.
"But all this pales in comparison with what you — Jock’s family — have been through since the accident.
"Know that we thought the world of Jock, and he’s an absolute credit to you all."
Two other degrees were awarded posthumously yesterday — a bachelor of engineering technology to Michael Sherry, and a New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (level 3) to Kees Payne.
