Pickett is a high-ranking cadet at a school in a town called Lexington, but it's not VMI.

After being "drummed out" of VMI during the 1999-2000 school year for an unspecified honor offense -- either lying, cheating or stealing -- Pickett is now the cadet commander of the Air Force ROTC unit at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.

VMI officials would say only that Pickett left VMI "for reasons satisfactory to the president," but sources who knew Pickett at VMI confirmed she was expelled for an honor code violation.

She is majoring in mechanical engineering, a five-year program, and should graduate in May 2002, according to information her family provided to the VMI public relations department. She was selected the outstanding senior Air Force ROTC student for the fall 2000 semester.

Pickett and her family declined to be interviewed.