Curiosity Sparks Interest in MS Scholarship Winner's Job Choice

May 28, 2025

By Kathy Jefcoats

The electrical engineering field is a far cry from law enforcement but that’s where Aidan Rybar wants to be.

“I would like to be able to look at any piece of technology and have an understanding of how it works,” said Aidan Rybar. “I think that would be pretty cool. Electrical engineers also get paid pretty well so that is another big reason as to why I chose it as my major.”

Aidan Rybar with his father, Waveland police Officer Igor Rybar

Aidan said he is an admirer of Serbian-American engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla.

“I took an interest in Nikola Tesla,” he said. “He was responsible for man revolutionary inventions of the time, one being the radio. I believe that engineers shape the world around us, which is why I want to become one.”

It’s interesting, then, that law enforcement involvement is helping him achieve his goal. His dad, Waveland, Miss., police Officer Igor Rybar, is a PBA member, which makes Aidan eligible for a PBF scholarship through the MSPBA. He is one of 24 students who earned a scholarship in 2024 across 11 divisions.

“Receiving a PBF scholarship, to me, is a huge privilege,” said Aidan. “It means the world to me that I am able to receive a scholarship from an organization that supports the beloved peacemakers of our nation. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to receive a scholarship from this Foundation. As everyone knows, college is expensive, and this scholarship helps out with that greatly.”

Father and son at the summit of Lomnický štít, the second highest and most visited mountain peak in the High Tatras mountains of Slovakia.

After graduating with a 4.22 GPA from Hancock High School in Kiln, Miss., Aidan attends classes at the “beautiful college” of Mississippi State University in Starkville. He’s hoping for a summer internship with NASA.

In high school, Aidan was active in JROTC, the golf team and Jacob’s Well Baptist Church youth group. He also completed 15 hours of fixed-wing flight lessons. Some of his volunteering time was spent cleaning up an old VFW post damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, performing yardwork at a nursing home and setting up for a fundraising event.

Aidan finished JROTC as a cadet major, having earned many achievements as part of the school’s Hawk Battalion and curriculum. They include perfect attendance, honor roll, world history achievement, perfect score on Algebra I state test, honors biology comp award, English I comp award, STEM comp award, JROTC Hawk award, various promotions, Beta Club member and AP courses.

The pair enjoying a treat during a work break for Officer Rybar

A nine-year law enforcement veteran, Officer Rybar said he is proud of his son and the work he’s put in toward achieving his professional goal.

“My son, Aidan, worked so hard to accomplish all the steps to be able to attend Mississippi State University, I'm beyond proud of the man he became,” said Officer Rybar. “College is just another beginning, and I know his accomplishments will be even bigger than his dreams.”

Officer Rybar joined the department so he could help people and demonstrate that society can always do better. In one incident, he was able to see his service efforts come full circle.

”I remember saving one young girl, and just before ambulance took her in the hospital, I gave her my police bracelet and wished her all the best,” he said. “A few years passed by, and I was at restaurant, standing in the line, talking to my partner, when the lady behind me said, ‘You are the police officer that saved my daughter.’

“She had to remind me and told me that her daughter -- now grown -- is outside in the car,” continued Officer Rybar. “I went outside, the girl recognized me, came running at me and crying. The best part was that she still had the police bracelet on her wrist.”

But police officers face tragedy, too. Two years ago, two of Officer Rybar’s Waveland colleagues were killed in the line of duty. The news hit too close to home for Aidan.

Celebrating a most famous Mississippian, Elvis

“Within the last two years, my dad lost a fellow officer and a best friend. (Sgt.) Steven Robin was his name and I had many great memories with him, but nowhere near as many as my dad,” said Aidan. “Steven wasn’t the only one who lost his life that day, but also another young officer named Branden Estorffe. I knew his little sister pretty well.

“You never know what can happen to a loved one when they work as a police officer. I fear for my father every time he goes out to work, but that fear is soothed by my faith in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ,” he continued.

Aidan recalled the Bible reference, Matthew 5 verse 9, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God.”

“I know that my father is protected not only by a vest, but also by God,” he said. “If anything were to ever happen to him, I know that he has God on his side and he is backed by his fellow officers.”