In 1982, the school was renamed Yeshivat Akiva-Akiva Hebrew Day School-Stollman Education Center.
[2] It is currently known as Farber Hebrew Day School-Yeshivat Akiva and uses the motto "A foundation in Torah, a lifetime of success."
The latest name change came as part of a major endowment by the Audrey & William Farber Family.
[5] At the tenth annual dinner in 1974, Abba Eban was the guest of honor and presented the school with the 1974 Spiritual Bridges Award of the WZO's department for Torah Education and Culture.
[7] In December 1974, Phillip, Max and Frieda Stollman dedicated a kindergarten building in the school.
[9] In January 1988, The Sara Tugman Learning Resource Center for students with special educational needs was dedicated.
[10] In 2001, the Schostak Family set up the Millennium Fund to boost the high school program at Akiva.
The William Davidson Foundation donated $2.25 million, for "augmentation and improvement of Akiva's academic offerings."
[13][14] Rabbi Manfred Pick was the first principal of the school, starting in 1964 and remaining at that post until 1970.
[24] He was succeeded by Mike Feigelman in 1969,[25] followed by Gary Torgow in 1970[26] and Sheldon Klein for the 1970–71 school year.
The yearbook was traditionally titled "HeChalutz" (The Pioneer), a name which lent itself to the school's basketball program for many years.
In subsequent year, winning science fair projects were displayed at the Cranbrook Institute.
[33] Akiva has participated in Bible Competitions, including the International Chidon HaTanach.
In 1987, kindergarten student Zevi Steinmetz won the national competition when he invented a Popsicle stick that caught drips.
[43] For many years Akiva has participated in the Southfield Public Library's Battle of the Books, winning on a number of occasions.
Starting in 1989, Akiva participated in the Israel Quiz Bowl, competing in the Day School division.
[50] With the name change that occurred in 2016, the sports team took on the moniker Farber Fire.
Akiva's first reported athletic competition was a 1972 floor hockey contest against Yeshiva Beth Yehuda, played at the Detroit Jewish Center.
In 1973, sixth grade boys in both Akiva and Yeshivat Beth Yehuda formed a Shabbat observant baseball league and played against one another.
[52] In 1985 Akiva organized a basketball team, which played against Beth Yehudah, Skokie, and the local JCC.
In 2013, the middle school team played against Hillel at the Palace of Auburn Hills during halftime of an exhibition game.
[59] In 1989, the school hosted its first basketball tournament, the Akiva Invitational, consisting of four JV teams.
[62] Practice takes place at Southfield-Lathrup High School and at the Detroit Tennis and Squash Club.
[63] From the inception of the high school, students were expected to spend time studying in Israel.
In August 1973, the school's first 12th grade, consisting of Jonathan Freier, Sheldon Klein, Gary Torgow, Danny Schnipper, Jonathan Simon, Barbara Eskin, Michael Greenbaum, Benny Micznik, David Donin, Karen Polk, Judith Mermelstein, Lynn Dombey, Sarina Flatt and Solomon Pesis, left for Israel.
Reasons given for the decision were that it became widely accepted among day schools for students to spend a year in Israel post-graduation, and that the Akiva students no longer attended the same schools in Israel, so it no longer felt like an extension of the class.
The principal at the time, Zev Shimansky, also felt that students were suffering from the condensed academic program during three years of high school.
Reticence to lease the building to Akiva led to charges in the Detroit Free Press of anti-Semitism, but the Lathrup City Council approved the transaction unanimously.
[83] To celebrate the move, a parade was held down 12 Mile Road with the school's Torah scrolls.
In 1982 the school filed for reorganization under Chapter XI, but was able to recover and continue operating, opening with 330 students in 1982.