STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) -- Mississippi State University is honoring a Nobel Peace Prize winner with a tree.
The tree was planted on the Drill Field Monday in honor of African environmentalist Wangari Maathai.
Maathai helped found the Green Belt Movement which helps fight deforestation and hunger in Africa.
Maathai's book, "Unbowed", was the university's freshmen reading program selection for the 2012-2013 school year.
"These are issues effecting our enviorment. Humanitarian issues, women's rights issues are values we want to bestow to our students at Mississippi State," said MSU President Mark Keenum.
Kenya's Amabassador to the United States, Elkanah Odembo, attended the ceremony.
"I know she is smiling down on us because we just planted a tree in her honor. The thing she always urged us to do was plant trees, conserve the earth for future generations," said Odembo.
The Green Belt Movement covers more than 15 African nations and its goal is to protect the land from erosion, tree-loss, and preserving Africa's natural water supply.
