It’s a long shot to win a College Match scholarship — only 102 were awarded this year out of 3,346 applicants — but Joshua Peagler had a good feeling about his chances.

On the day he knew announcements were to be made, the 18-year-old Hickory High School senior stayed close to his computer, repeatedly hitting “refresh” to update his email inbox.

At one point, a new email came in. He hurriedly said good-bye to whomever he was talking to on the phone, and opened the message. Reading the word “congratulations,” “I freaked out,” he said.

Peagler, of Hermitage, said he remembered saying “I’m going somewhere” and celebrated for several minutes before he read the rest of the email and learned he had been accepted for a full, four-year scholarship — including room and board — to Columbia University in New York. The value of the prize is more than $160,000, College Match said.

It took two months to complete the application process. Aside from submitting a grade transcript and Scholastic Aptitude and ACT scores, he had to fill out questionnaires, secure teacher and guidance counselor recommendations, and write five essays, one of 800 words and the others of 500 words, on subjects such as a significant life experience and ways in which he has shown leadership. In addition, he listed five colleges he would like to attend, and had a separate set of information to prepare for each one.

Peagler said his grades and test scores do not “stand out,” so he thinks his extracurricular activities are what caught the attention of Columbia admissions officials.

He’s on student council and has been his class president all through high school. He’s won essay and education awards, and ran track and played football. The son of Maxine Peagler also has worked part-time jobs, although he is on hiatus from Aeropostale, Hermitage, so he can concentrate on rehearsals for his school musical, “Brigadoon.”

To put it mildly, he likes to be busy, which he said helps him develop qualities such as independence and time management.

“He likes to be challenged,” Ms. Peagler said. “When he decides to do it, he wants it to be complete.”

Peagler certainly is taking on a challenge with “Brigadoon,” playing one of the leads, Tommy Albright. His previous musical experience was in his church choir as a child.

“I’ve never sung in front of a crowd before,” said Peagler, who has been described as shy by people who know him.

In a news release, Tim Brady, chief executive officer of QuestBridge, the Palo Alto, Calif., foundation that administers the College Match, spoke of Peagler’s passion and commitment to public service.

“He will do great things at Columbia University,” Brady said.

Peagler said he hoped to attend Columbia because he wanted an “Ivy League experience” and to study in New York.

“It was the best of both worlds,” he said.