As a long-time resident of Troy, Victoria Outlaw gives credit to her school and the community for her success in college and her role as the planning and zoning coordinator assistant at Troy City Hall under the guidance of Melissa Sanders, planning and zoning administrator.

“I owe a lot to the Charles Henderson family,” Outlaw said. “They molded me into the person I am. I owe a lot to that school. I think that’s why I love troy so much because everyone here shaped me, especially the school.”

Outlaw graduated from Charles Henderson High School in 2013 and was under the wing of Betty Wagoner for high school years. Outlaw considered herself as “one of her babies.”

“I owe a lot of my success to her,” she said. “She pushed me and made me understand how important school was. I was an athlete in high school, and she made me realize that without your education, you’re nothing. Sports aren’t always going to be there for you.”

Outlaw is moving into her junior year at Troy University to pursue a nursing degree in the footsteps of her mother. While she studies in the medical field, she said she enjoys her job working with the city, although the two are unrelated.

“I have a servant’s heart,” Outlaw said. “I think that’s the main reason for my nursing degree. (In my job) I get to deal with the public a lot. I get to meet tons of new people, and I love meeting new people. I don’t really meet strangers.”

She began working for the city in June 2013, and after two years with the city, she said she has developed a greater appreciation for the community and for the city workers.

“I’m proud of Troy,” she said. “I grew up here. I didn’t want to leave. Bettering my community is a major thing. This is my home, and I want to make my home better.”

Her job as planning and zoning coordinator assistant entitles her to plan multiple events throughout the year, including Mayor for a Day, Red Ribbon Week, Team Up to Clean up and more. Outlaw said her eyes have been opened to all the things that are done through the City of Troy while working at City Hall.

Outlaw explained that Johnny Witherington, president of Troy City Council, was the one to inform her about the job opening in 2013 and he has since become a grandfather-figure in her life. She said that Witherington and Mayor Jason Reeves have been great role models and they have shown her how to work in a powerful position.

“I love the mayor,” she said. “You won’t find another mayor that cares more about the people of the city. When you are in positions of power, you are always going to have people that judge the way you do it. They won’t want to do it themselves, but they will correct you. But both of those men genuinely care about what the people want, not what they want.”

Although Outlaw enjoys her job and could even see herself working in a similar career, she still says she will pursue a nursing career; however, she would still like to stay in Troy.

“I want to stay here around these people,” Outlaw said. “I love this town. I love the people that are here and I want to take care of them and make sure I can do whatever I can.”