Spice for a cause: Hot Takes event raises money to support struggling grad students

Six contestants were determined to beat the heat at Utah State University’s “hottest game show,” Hot Takes. The contestants battled spice, their gag reflex and each other all for the sake of the university’s graduate students.  

This game show consists of five levels of hot wings and a mini game each round. Audience members had the chance to donate, which would then force the contestants to take another bite.  

By the fifth round, the contestants were red in the face, and one was even throwing up. The reason for all of this? Supporting the Graduate Student Emergency Hardship Fund.  

Mike Morales is the marketing and communications director for the USU School of Graduate Studies and the driving force behind the event.  

“It’s the hottest game show in Utah,” Morales said. “We have a panel of community members, students, faculty and staff who will be competing to win the title of ‘Extinguisher of the Flame.’ 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Graduate Student Emergency Hardship Fund.” 

This fund is set aside to supply aid for USU graduate students. Students apply, and if their case is approved, they are allotted a capped amount of aid.  

David Feldon, vice provost of Graduate Studies and a Hot Takes contestant, shared during the event that due to the high levels of need and emergencies, the fund has run out.  

“The School of Graduate Studies’ top priority is helping students successfully navigate their graduate programs,” Feldon said. “The fund is really a contribution to our community more than a contribution to the university.” 

The hardship fund, according to Feldon, is never mixed with other funds and is only specifically divided out in case of emergencies a graduate student may have. 

“The fund is a discrete index within the university’s business system, so those funds never get commingled with anything else,” Feldon said. 

Miss USU Allie Berry and David Feldon drink milk after eating spicy chicken wings during Hot Takes on Jan. 29.

According to the Graduate Studies senator and the 2025 Hot Takes champion Jamie Parry, donors and contributors at the 2025 Hot Takes were able to raise about $1,000. This year, according to Morales, donors and contributors raised around $1,600 for the fund. 

“It’s important that graduate students know that that is available to them,” Parry said. “Not only does our fundraising increase that fund for our graduate students, but for graduate students that are struggling, it’s a helpful event to know that this is a resource they can use in case they need it.” 

Hot Takes was a part of Grad Week at USU, a week dedicated to supporting and highlighting the graduate students.  

“Grad Week in general is being able to support the grad community. A lot of the time, grad students are really invested in their studies, which is awesome, but sometimes that can be really isolating. Providing a week full of events really can help connect them to the people in Logan,” Parry said.  

According to the Utah State Fast Facts web page, in the 2025 fall semester, there were 3,202 graduate students enrolled at USU, and 2,257 of those students are enrolled at the main campus.  

“Our graduate school isn’t very big. Grad Week is really targeted towards graduate students, their families and their friends but also connecting them to other students that are at Utah State,” Parry said. “We are one big community, and I don’t think that the line between undergrad and graduate students should prevent them from enjoying campus events.”