Willie spent much of his time in high school involved in the arts. His love for music and the arts is the inspiration for The Willie Tichenor Arts Scholarship. The scholarship is granted each year to a graduating senior from Highland Park High School who has been involved in the arts for their entire high school career and wishes to continue that involvement whether it is as a profession, as an avocation, or simply as a source of entertainment and joy. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years.