Through the Lens of CDS: A 2025-2026 Photo Essay
The end of a school year marks a time for looking forward and reflecting back in all kinds of ways. My name is Isabella Boncser, and as the CDS Student Event Photographer, I’d like to invite everyone to join me in this photo look back on some of my favorite memories with CDS. I’ve had the privilege of capturing the CDS community for about 2 and a half years, with assignments ranging from attending a 24 hour hackathon, to attending weekly “Code & Tell” presentations at the Duan Family Spark! Initiative. Whether it was students discussing their busy schedule over a cup of coffee or playing board games on the17th floor, each event told its own story that I was honored to capture.
Outside of photography, I’m a first-year Physical Therapy student in the 6-Year Accelerated BS/DPT program at Sargent College. Balancing academics and photography has been a unique and rewarding experience, giving me both a creative outlet and a different perspective on the people and environment around me. I’m excited to return to CDS for my remaining semesters and continue capturing the moments that make this community so memorable.
Matcha at Saxby’s
I always love capturing the energy around the building during the 1st week of classes. Pictured here were two students comparing their schedules for the upcoming semester, and of course enjoying some matcha from Saxby’s.
Yoga at CDS
Jenna Du Toit, a 1st year DPT student (and of course CDS yoga instructor) leads the first class of the semester through yoga flow, overlooking the Charles. These yoga classes are energizing and calm, offering students a chance to rest before the semester picks up.
Research on Tap
“Research on Tap”, sponsored by Boston University Office of Research, allows students and faculty to share their recent findings in a quick “round robin” presentation. Ideas are exchanged over some appetizers, blending curiosity with community.
Industry Connections
As the semester wrapped up, students were connected with companies like Google, Toast, and Amazon. Students were able to engage with professionals in their own aspiring fields, and step into conversations that simulate real-world opportunities.
Tech Talks
The Duan Family Spark! Initiative: It is often at the center of CDS innovation. Students and staff at Spark! work to bring industry experts to talk about their companies, experiences and data science knowledge.
Uno & Orientation
First-year CDS students were welcomed by the CDS Faculty & Staff with the essentials like campus maps, important advising information, and some fun games. But it's the oversized Uno deck of cards that truly breaks the ice, and allows students to walk away from this experience with some new found friends.
High Fives for Hackathon
During the 2026 Civic Tech Hackathon, teams of students from all over the greater Boston area came together for a full 24 hours, building their projects from the bottom up. The building was bustling with students brainstorming, hacking, and of course consuming copious amounts of coffee. This photo was captured right before a group was slated to present their project to the panel of judges.
Demo Day
BU Spark! Demo Day, part of the Experiential Learning Expo, is an opportunity for students to showcase their projects they’ve spent an entire semester working on. Pictured here are two students embracing after a successful demo.
Late Night Pong
During a late night of hacking, teams rallied for a friendly game of pong, where things got quite competitive. Pong tournaments lasted hours as students de-stressed from their hacking and offered a much needed break. What began as a quick distraction from laptops turned into hours of intense play, allowing students to recharge before working into the night.
Lost a Bet
The CDS student government has worked to create a sense of community amongst students throughout the academic year. One of the events that was quite popular among students was “poker night”. The student here lost his hand (and bet), and thus entertained the room with a fast and furious dance that amazed the crowd.
Code & Tell
Spark! Ambassadors began a new initiative this semester, entitled “Code & Tell”. Every Wednesday evening, students share what they’ve built in class or simply for fun. Each demo moves the process behind the idea, how the code was built, and allows students to receive live feedback from the audience.