Students accepted into Penn State University’s prestigious honors college get $3,500 annual merit scholarships. The school is making a request because of the tough economic times : Would parents donate that money back? Parents who have not applied for financial aid for their children appeals for Schreyer Honor College, encoring them to share their good fortune with students that need it more. It seems to be working. The first 75 families last year raised about $228,000. Lee Andes, president of the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, said “I have not heard of this kind of approach before. It doesn’t surprise me to hear people getting creative.” Penn State's appeal may be unusual, but the economic downturn has forced colleges around the country to rethink a decades-long shift toward using financial aid dollars for high-achieving students.