She went on to attend Marian University, a Catholic private college in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and earned her bachelor's degree in communications in 1997.

As part of her activities as Miss Farm Bureau, Vruwink traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby on behalf of agricultural interests.

Before reaching the general election, Vruwink faced a contest for the Democratic Party nomination against Gary W. Morgan, a former radio reporter who was endorsed by long-time neighboring district representative Marlin Schneider.

[10] In the general election, Vruwink's Republican opponent was Gary C. Meyer, a small business owner and high school classmate.

[12][13] There was also an attempt by Republicans to connect her to the recent "caucus scandal" in Madison, because she was one of several Assembly candidates who had received support from tainted third party PACs in the 2000 election.

Following the 2008 election and the Great Recession, Republicans were buoyed by the Tea Party movement, a backlash against the new Democratic president Barack Obama and government spending.

Republicans used their power to pass controversial legislation, including a dramatic new redistricting law now recognized as one of the most aggressive gerrymanders in American history.

[17] After the 2012 election, Vruwink was named by her party's leadership to a coveted seat on the Legislature's budget-writing Joint Finance Committee.

[18][19] After leaving office, Vruwink returned to working as a congressional staffer, this time for U.S. representative Ron Kind (D–La Crosse).