Before Michael Walden knew what valedictorian meant, he wanted to be one.

The A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School senior attended a cousin's graduation at age 9 and decided he would win the title of top student one day, said his father, also named Michael.

Though Michael now holds the title of valedictorian and hasn't made a grade lower than an A since first grade, his father was still stunned when his son was accepted to four Ivy League schools last month.

"He's always been very self-motivated. We've never had to ask him to do anything," Mr. Walden said. "I was still shocked, though. I thought he would get into one or two, but not all four."

Michael received e-mail notifications of his acceptance to Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Cornell universities March 31. He initially only shared the news with his family.

"I didn't want people thinking I was all that," said Michael, 17.

His principal later announced the news to the school.

Michael has decided to go to Yale, in New Haven, Conn., this fall. He was one of 23,000 students who applied this year, said Jeffrey Brenzel, Yale's dean of undergraduate admissions. Fewer than 2,000 were accepted.

"The competition is beyond brutal," Mr. Brenzel said. "Students from across the country now are very high-achieving, and they focus on a very tiny handful of schools."

Students who are Yale material are usually good candidates for other elite schools, Mr. Brenzel said, but most don't apply to more than one or two.

Helga Enko, Michael's advanced placement calculus teacher, said the news of Michael's Ivy League status wasn't a surprise.

"He's a very talented student who's not afraid of hard work," said Mrs. Enko, who has also taught Michael in her geometry and AP statistics class. "The inspiration and the perspiration have come together in his case."

Michael admits that his academic achievement didn't come by chance. He often studies three hours a night during the week and four hours on Saturdays, he said. Balancing his AP courses with basketball and serving as president for his school's student council and National Honor Society chapter took more than smarts.

"I really had to learn to time-manage," Michael said. "I also had to keep God first. None of this would have been possible without him."

Michael said he hopes he can get involved in activities on campus and enjoy two of his favorite things outside of academics: girls and food.

Mr. Walden said he; his wife, Brenda; and his three other children will miss having Michael around.

"His mom's sentimental, so she's going to miss him, but I know he'll be fine," Mr. Walden said. "It's like his grandfather says: Opportunity is there at you or it passes you, so you have to take it."

Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.