Celebrating the New Lowy International School at TAU

Friends and supporters of TAU gathered last week for a celebration of Sir Frank Lowy’s generous gift to the newly-named LOWY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Dedicated to the Memory of Shirley Lowy. The night’s presentations illuminated the impact Lowy’s contribution will have on students from overseas and the University’s international presence. Welcoming participants to the event, Lowy School Director Maureen Adiri Meyer said, “we could never have imagined we’d be honored with the name of Shirley Lowey. We at the International School can now dream higher and achieve more.”  

Attendees learned about the exciting opportunities that will now be available to TAU students from University Vice President Prof. Millette Shamir. Depicting the journeys of three hypothetical students, she showed how Israeli students will have the chance to follow their passions across the globe and how those from other countries can now explore new paths and make important connections at TAU thanks to the unique programs and initiatives supported by Lowy.  

Her point was illustrated by Lowy School electrical engineering student Koffi-Emmanuel Sadzi from Togo, who told future students “to always be curious and always ask why; the answer might surprise you.” 
 

 
Sir Frank Lowy and Prof. Ariel Porat (Photo: Yael Tzur/TAU)

On a more sentimental note, TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat and Lowy himself spoke about Lowy’s eventful life, his decades-long friendship with TAU and Israel, and the love shared between him and Shirley. Porat explained how Lowy, a Holocaust survivor, built with his family one of the largest businesses in Australia. Lowy’s love for Israel spurred him to found several important initiatives including TAU’s Center for Combating Pandemics and the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).  

Lowy commemorated his late wife, telling the story of how she wished to study all her life and how, at 45, she finally attended university and got a degree in anthropology. Shirley believed wholeheartedly in the importance of education. Said Lowy, “I hope to make sure that the memory of my wife will be kept alive, and here it will be l’olam tamid.”  

At the end of the night, attendees were treated to a musical performance of classic Israeli songs by TAU Buchmann-Mehta School of Music students. Lowy was also gifted a shirt signed by dozens of Lowy International School students, “so you can see how many lives you’re touching from all around the world every day.” 

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