5 Questions with Mini Muskies

May 8, 2023

Recently we sat down with Claire Chmielewski and Zayvion Eusebe, the president and vice-president of Mini Muskies, an organization where Musketeers mentor students from a local elementary school. Here's what they had to say about the organization, its impact, and their hopes for the organization as they graduate.

Can you tell us about Mini Muskies?

Claire: Mini Muskies is celebrating a ten-year partnership with an elementary school called St. Francis de Sales, and it’s run traditionally through the Eigel Center for Community Engaged Learning. It's kind of a coveted name [to be a Mini Muskie] at St. Francis De Sales. 

The students apply to be part of the program and get it based on teacher recommendation.

Zayvion: Mini Muskies is a unique opportunity for not only the Xavier students, but also the students here at St. Francis de Sales, to foster a really strong connection with each other. We provide an outlet for the kids through team building exercises, STEM activities and other means, such as homework help.

 

How are the elementary school students impacted by Mini Muskies?

Zayvion: [We meet the] kids on Tuesday afternoons and just being there for them, being an outlet, someone they can talk to, someone they can learn from, really goes a long way. 

Claire: When a [St. Francis de Sales] student get called to be a Mini Muskie, they serve not only as a classmate for their peers but as a role model.We strive to build their communication and leadership skills and boost their confidence, as well as their sense of belonging. 

What impact does Mini Muskies have for Xavier students and for the students at St. Francis de Sales?

Claire: Mini Muskies allows us to empower the students we work with by utilizing our Jesuit values. When you think Jesuit values, you think reflection, and we engage in regular reflection with our students and remind them why it’s important to do so. We encourage cura personalis, which is caring for the whole person, and magis in everything our mentors and mentees do.

Zayvion: It's very important for Xavier students to have this outlet where they can make an impact in their community. With a club like Mini Muskies, it's really easy to get your feet wet and make a name for yourself within the community and see the impact you make every single Tuesday.

What’s a favorite memory from your time with Mini Muskies?

Claire: Probably our final meeting on campus last year, where we had a field day. We did different Olympic games, but we also went on a tour of campus and had a pizza party. Not only were our mentees talking about how they wanted to go to college, but they were talking about how they wanted to go to Xavier.

Zayvion: My favorite memory was meeting my mentee for the first time. There was obviously icebreaking that needed to be done, [and it] was a little bit awkward at first. [But] we connected on our interests, and I think we’ve built a really great relationship so far.

As you two graduate, what are your hopes for Mini Muskies?

Zayvion: I really hope this program continues to grow. After our COVID year during 2020-2021, we had to pick up the pieces after the club was forced to do a pen pal program with the students. But we've been able to pick up a lot of momentum through Club Day and being able to promote what we have to offer. I feel like we're on the right track to making sure that this club is cemented in the legacy of Xavier University. 

Claire: As sad as I am to be ending my involvement with Mini Muskies, I know we're leaving the club in really great and capable hands. I'm really excited to see what they have in store for [the club] as well as what we can do to boost visibility for Mini Muskies, not just in the Xavier community but in the whole Cincinnati area. 

 

If you want to get involved with Mini Muskies, follow them on Instagram or EngageXU.