Six months after six of its members died in a plane crash near Washington, D.C., the Skating Club of Boston is launching a campaign to honor the victims.
Coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, and parents Jin Han and Christine Lane each died when an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter on the plane’s final approach toward Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
In what the club is calling the “Always Champions” campaign, the Skating Club of Boston will rename its West Rink the “Always Champions Training Rink,” with a tribute wall featuring stories and photos of each of the six victims.
Both Jinna Han and Spencer Lane trained at the West Rink, while Shishkova and Naumov led their “Tomorrow’s Champions” developmental program there.
The club also will place three benches — honoring the three families — outside of the facility’s main entrance, as well as bronzed skates of the two coaches and two skaters.
Two scholarships and four annual awards will be established in the names of the victims.
“We developed this campaign to honor the memories of these six individuals, and to ensure that their personal legacies will forever be a part of the Club’s legacy,” said Doug Zeghibe, the club’s CEO and executive director. “Their commitment to the sport and spirit of excellence will continue to inspire today’s and future generations of our community. For all of us, they are Always Champions who will never be forgotten.”
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.